WASHINGTON DC – US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Washington from Davos Thursday night, described what he called a “framework deal” over Greenland in language that was at once expansive and elusive.
“It was really a negotiation, but it’s infinity,” Trump said. “The time limit is infinity, meaning there is no time limit. It’s forever.”
Pressed on what the US could do under such an arrangement, Trump was blunt. “We can do anything we want – we can do military, we can do anything we want, and it’s being negotiated. Let’s see what happens. I think it’ll be good.”
He framed the talks not only as an American opportunity, but as a benefit to Europe. “We have a lot of great things in the deal, and don’t forget, they’re also good for Europe,” Trump said. “Because, we hold it all together.”
NATO, ‘Golden Dome’ and an open-ended command
Trump insisted the negotiations would be conducted alongside the alliance.
“And actually NATO is going to be involved with us,” he said. “We’re going to be doing in conjunction, parts of it, in conjunction with NATO, which is really the way it should be.”
He floated a vision that included new military construction and shared financing.
“We’re not going to have an expense other than building the Golden Dome,” Trump said.
Asked whether the deal would give Washington control or ownership of land in Greenland, Trump declined to say.
“We’ll have something in two weeks,” he said. “There’s a good spirit to get something done, and we have to have a strong freedom. We have to have the ability to do exactly what we want to do. We have a great military.”
He pivoted quickly to his record. “I built a great military. I did this in my first term. And continuation, big continuation,” Trump said.
‘Everyone likes it’ – or maybe in two weeks
Trump offered few specifics on where Denmark stood.
“I think everyone likes it,” he said when asked whether Copenhagen was on board. “I’ll let you know in about two weeks.”
He said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had already been working the phones.
“Secretary General, Mark Rutte is a great guy. He’s a great guy, and he’s spoken to everybody,” Trump said.
When asked whether military presence in Greenland came up, he replied: “We talked about everything. And you saw him yesterday when he was interviewed on Bret Baier. He was very happy. He was very convinced this is a good deal for everybody.”
Trump repeated his core refrain when again asked whether the US would gain pockets of sovereignty.
“We have a lot of great things in the deal, and don’t forget, they’re also good for Europe,” he said. “Because… we hold it all together.”
Brussels closes ranks
Hours later, in Brussels, the EU moved swiftly to shut down any suggestion that Greenland’s future was up for bargaining.
After an emergency summit that ended Thursday night, European Council President António Costa struck a careful balance – reaffirming partnership with Washington while drawing a bright line around sovereignty.
“The EU and the US have long been partners and allies,” Costa said. “We believe that relationships between partners and allies should be managed in a cordial and respectful way.”
He acknowledged shared interests in the Arctic “notably, working through NATO,” but then spoke directly to Trump’s gambit.
“Denmark and Greenland have the full support of the European Union,” Costa said, adding that only they can decide their future. “This is a reflection of our firm commitment to the principles of international law, territorial integrity and national sovereignty.”
Costa welcomed Trump’s recent U-turn on tariffs – which he said would have been “incompatible” with EU-US trade – but warned that Brussels would defend itself “against any form of coercion” if necessary.
He called for “constructive” engagement with Washington, including on Ukraine.
Solidarity, icebreakers – and countermeasures
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed the show of unity.
Leaders, she said, had “very good discussions” and expressed “unequivocal solidarity with Greenland and Denmark,” while also standing with six member states previously threatened by Trump’s tariffs.
The EU, she said, has been engaging the United States “very actively” in “a firm, but non-escalatory manner,” but is prepared to deploy countermeasures and non-tariff tools if tariff threats return.
On Arctic security, von der Leyen argued “it’s high time to step up,” including deeper ties with Greenland and the use of EU funds to make Europe “Arctic-ready” – even floating a European icebreaker.
She then turned to Ukraine, warning that “as winter has taken grip of the country, Russia is doubling down on vile attacks,” and said Brussels is still waiting for Moscow to answer recent peace proposals, while laying early plans for Ukraine’s postwar future.
Denmark’s red line
Copenhagen, meanwhile, made its position unmistakable.
As Trump’s threats gave way to talks with Rutte, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said sovereignty was off the table.
“NATO is fully aware of the Kingdom of Denmark’s position,” she emphasized. “We can negotiate about everything politically – security, investments, the economy. But we cannot negotiate about our sovereignty.”
Trump had already ruled out using force to acquire Greenland and backed away from tariff threats against the EU – moves that triggered audible relief among Republican allies at home.
Behind the scenes, details remain murky.
According to several sources, a framework deal could include a multinational NATO command in Greenland under US leadership, mining rights, and measures to block Russian and Chinese presence on the island.
Neither the US, nor Denmark confirmed those terms.
Deal without deadline
For now, the proposal remains what Trump himself described: infinite.
“There’s a good spirit to get something done,” he said. “We have to have the ability to do exactly what we want to do.”
In Brussels, Europe’s answer was simpler: partnerships welcome, pressure not.
And as Air Force One touched down in Washington, Trump’s “forever” deal met the oldest limit in diplomacy – a continent reminding him that sovereignty still has an expiration date, even when negotiations do not.