According to Xinhua News Agency, U.S. President Trump posted a photo on social media early on the 20th, showing him holding the American flag as he climbed onto Greenland, with the U.S. Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Rubio standing behind him, and a signboard indicating "Greenland will become an American territory in 2026."

On the same day, Trump also released another image: he was meeting with European leaders in the White House office, and the map on the board behind him showed that, apart from the U.S. mainland, Canada, Greenland, and Venezuela were all covered by the American flag.

According to media reports on Tuesday, U.S. President Trump reiterated on Monday evening that the U.S. must gain control over Greenland, and he does not believe the EU will resist this issue too much. This statement continued his previous territorial claims over the Danish territory of Greenland, further escalating transatlantic tensions.

Trump claimed he would hold meetings with "all parties" during the World Economic Forum in Davos. He said Greenland is crucial for national and global security, and "there is no turning back." Trump also revealed that he had a "very pleasant phone call" with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and had arranged multiple meetings at Davos.

According to CCTV News, Trump previously threatened to impose tariffs on several European NATO allies, including Denmark, to force them to hand over control of Greenland. This escalation has drawn strong opposition from EU leaders, with French President Macron calling for the activation of the EU's strongest retaliation tools.

CCTV News reported that Trump has announced that starting from February 1, a 10% tariff will be imposed on all goods exported from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland to the U.S., until an agreement is reached on the "complete and thorough purchase of Greenland." The EU is considering imposing retaliatory tariffs on $93 billion worth of U.S. goods exported to Europe.

Trump Takes a Hard Line, Saying the EU Won't Resist Too Much

Trump told reporters in Florida, "We must have Greenland. They must do this. They can't protect us." When asked about the opposition from European leaders to his plan, Trump responded, "I don't think they will resist too much."

Trump emphasized that NATO has been warning Denmark about the threat from Russia for 20 years. He claimed that Greenland is crucial for national and global security, and said, "There is no turning back."

When talking about his upcoming trip to Davos, Trump said it would be "very interesting," and that he had arranged multiple meetings to discuss the Greenland issue. He also revealed that he had invited Russian President Putin to join the Peace Council. Trump said the U.S. economy is the "hottest" in the world, and will use this as the main message at Davos.

The EU Is Considering Countermeasures

According to CCTV News, several EU countries are considering imposing tariffs on $93 billion worth of U.S. goods exported to Europe or restricting U.S. companies from entering the EU market. An EU diplomat revealed that if the EU and the U.S. fail to reach an agreement, retaliatory tariffs will automatically take effect starting February 6.

Trump previously announced that starting from February 1, a 10% tariff would be imposed on all goods exported from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland to the U.S., until an agreement is reached on the "complete and thorough purchase of Greenland." This move turned tariffs into a "ransom for the island."

Trump also expressed dissatisfaction with French President Macron for refusing to join his proposed Peace Council and hinted at possibly imposing a 200% tariff on champagne and wine.

Subsequently, Trump also posted a screenshot of a text message from French President Macron on social media:

We are completely aligned on the Syria issue. On Iran, we can do a lot. I don't understand what you're doing on the Greenland issue. Let's work together to create great things.

Market Concerns Over "Capital Weaponization"

According to a previous article from Wall Street Eyes, as Trump threatens a trade war, how Europe uses its holdings of over $1 trillion in U.S. assets has become a risk that the market is watching. According to data from the U.S. Treasury, the total amount of U.S. assets held by the EU exceeds $1 trillion, and the UK and Norway also hold more such assets.

Deutsche Bank warned that the situation could escalate into "the weaponization of capital." Most of the U.S. assets held by Europe are managed by private funds that governments cannot control. If Europe weaponizes its holdings of U.S. assets, it would mean a serious escalation of the situation, effectively expanding the trade war into a direct financial conflict affecting capital markets.

In his speech, Trump also mentioned the issue of the Federal Reserve Chairperson, stating that he knows who he wants. He also said he doesn't care about the Nobel Peace Prize, saying, "I care about saving lives," and thanked Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for gifting him her medal.

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Original: toutiao.com/article/7597327567842787881/

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