Trump doubles down on Greenland ahead of Davos visit, saying there is 'no going back'

US President Donald Trump has doubled down on his threats to take control of Greenland, saying there is "no going back".

Asked at a news conference how far he was willing to go to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory, he replied: "You'll find out."

It comes after French President Emmanuel Macron warned of a "shift towards a world without rules", and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the "old order is not coming back".

Trump was due to arrive in Davos ahead of his speech at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, but a minor electrical issue on Air Force One forced the plane to turn around.

It was unclear how the delay would impact his schedule. The White House said the plane turned around and that Trump would fly to Switzerland on another aircraft.

Trump has said there are "a lot of meetings scheduled on Greenland".

Earlier, during a lengthy press briefing, Trump also told reporters that "things are going to work out pretty well" in Greenland.

Asked by the BBC whether the possible break up of Nato was a price he was willing to pay for Greenland, Trump responded: "Nobody has done more for Nato than I have, in every way.

"Nato is going to be happy and we are going to be happy [...] We need it for world security."

But he earlier questioned whether Nato would come to aid of the US, should it be required.

"I know we'll come to [Nato's] rescue, but I just really do question whether or not they'll come to ours," he told reporters.

Nato currently has 32 member states, with the US one of the 12 founding countries.

Designed to safeguard freedom and security through a collective defence, one of the core principles of the Nato alliance is outlined in Article 5, which says that an armed attack against one or more members will be considered an attack against all.

Trump has not ruled out using military force to acquire Greenland. Asked by NBC News on Tuesday whether he would use force to seize the territory, the president replied: "No comment".

In an interview with BBC Newsnight on Tuesday, Greenland's minister of industry and natural resources, Naaja Nathanielsen, said that Greenlanders were "bewildered" by the president's demands.

"We do not want to be Americans, and we have been quite clear about that," Nathanielsen said.

"What value do you put on our culture and our right to decide what happens with us in the future?"

Ahead of the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Trump shared screenshots that he says showed text messages sent to him by Macron and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte.

In the messages, Rutte was seen saying he was committed to finding a way forward on Greenland, while Macron said he "does not understand what you are doing", but offered to organise a meeting with other leaders in Paris.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, addressed the matter directly in a speech to attendees on Tuesday, emphasising that Europe is "fully committed" when it comes to the security of the Arctic.

However, she said that this could only be achieved together, and called Trump's tariff threats "a mistake".

The US president has said he will add a 10% tariff to "any and all goods" imported from eight European countries from 1 February if they opposed his proposed takeover of Greenland.

In her speech, Von der Leyen added that the European Union stands in "full solidarity" with Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark – adding that their sovereignty is "non-negotiable".

Her words were echoed by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said that his country's commitment to Nato's Article 5 was "unwavering".

"We stand firmly with Greenland and Denmark and fully support their unique right to determine Greenland's future," Carney said.

During his own speech at Davos, Macron said he preferred "respect to bullies" and the "rule of law to brutality".

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump threatened a 200% tariff on French wine and champagne after Macron reportedly declined an invitation to join the Us-led Gaza "Board of Peace".

The French president condemned the "endless accumulation of new tariffs" as "fundamentally unacceptable", particularly when used as leverage against territorial sovereignty.

Macron is among those urging the EU to consider retaliatory options against US tariffs, including the anti-coercion instrument, nicknamed a "trade bazooka".

Sources close to the international trade committee have said that the European Parliament is planning to suspend approval of the US trade deal agreed in July, in a move that would mark another escalation in tensions between the US and Europe.

[Source: BBC News]