 |
| ▲ U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a special address during the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 21, 2026, in this photo, released by AFP. (Yonhap) |
Trump-Davos Forum
Trump touts 'historic' deals with S. Korea, Japan, other countries; stresses push to acquire Greenland
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday touted "historic" trade deals with South Korea, Japan and European nations, calling them "our partners," while reiterating his push to acquire Greenland, the Arctic territory of Denmark, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Trump delivered a speech during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, touching on what his administration has achieved since his return to the White House a year ago, while renewing criticism of the former Joe Biden administration.
"We've made historic trade deals with partners covering 40 percent of all U.S. trade, some of the greatest companies in countries in the world. We have countries as our partners too -- the European nations, Japan, South Korea," he said.
"They've gone into massive deals with us, especially on oil and gas, and these agreements raise growth and cause stock markets to boom, not only in the U.S. but virtually every country that came to make a deal because ... when the United States goes up, you follow," he added.
Touching on his ambitions for the American control of Greenland, Trump stressed the U.S.' ability to "secure" the territory while noting that he will not use "force," suggesting his administration would exclude a military option to acquire the Danish island.
"The fact is no nation or group of nations is in any position to be able to secure Greenland other than the U.S.," he said.
"We are a great power, much greater than people even understand. I think they found that out two weeks ago in Venezuela," he added, referring to the military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro to have him face American justice for drug trafficking and other charges.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has indicated that the Trump administration was considering a range of options to acquire Greenland in light of national security, noting that the use of the U.S. military is among those options for the commander-in-chief.
But Trump appeared to have ruled out a military option.
"People thought I would use force, but I don't have to use force. I don't want to use force. I won't use force," he said.
"All the U.S. is asking for is a place called Greenland, where we already had it as a trustee, but respectfully returned it back to Denmark not long ago, after we defeated the Germans, the Japanese, the Italians and others in World War II."
(END)
(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved
