US President Donald Trump threatens, US President Donald Trump demands, US President Donald Trump announces: The 56th meeting of the World Economic Forum has been running since Monday in Davos, Switzerland. More than 60 heads of state and government are taking part, as well as over 1,000 managers, the super-rich and representatives of NGOs. Nevertheless, the man from the White House dominates the meeting. Trump’s speech in Davos, announced for this Wednesday afternoon, is awaited with excitement and nervousness. The news at a glance.
NATO Rutte defends Trump on Greenland issue
10.30 a.m.: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte does not want to comment publicly on the tensions sparked by US President Donald Trump’s demand for a takeover of Greenland. He is working on the issue behind the scenes, but cannot do so in public, Rutte said during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos. However, President Trump is right that more needs to be done to protect the Arctic from Russian and Chinese influence. NATO is working to defend the Arctic region together. (rtr)
Spahn warns EU against confrontation with Trump
10 O `clock: In the Greenland conflict with Washington, Union faction leader Jens Spahn warned against taking a too confrontational course and emphasized the importance of the USA for the European Union and Germany. “We depend on the USA for security issues,” said the CDU politician on Deutschlandfunk before US President Donald Trump’s appearance in Davos. Spahn referred to the topics of nuclear sharing, Ukraine and Russia as well as intelligence information.
The head of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Armin Laschet, also advises prudence and recommended waiting for the speech first. “Making statements carelessly, making a big impression, that’s exactly the wrong thing,” said the CDU politician on ZDF’s “Morgenmagazin”. The risk is that Trump will completely withdraw support for Ukraine. “The most important thing for us Europeans is that we are now really contributing to a just peace for Ukraine.”
The Europeans are seeking a response to Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Germany and other countries if Denmark does not sell Greenland to the United States. Trump argues that the US relies on Greenland for security reasons. (dpa)
Green MP calls for financial boycott
9.30 a.m.: The Green MEP Rasmus Andresen is calling for a joint EU financial boycott against Washington in protest against the US claim to Greenland. “Europe should put massive pressure on (President Donald) Trump through a coordinated halt to the purchase of US government bonds and at the same time build up safe European financial assets,” Andresen told the newspapers of the Germany editorial network on Wednesday. “Trump would come under much greater pressure through a fiscal policy reaction than if the tariff screw were turned a little.”
The EU Commission, the European Investment Bank and the European Central Bank “should examine all options to get this financial bazooka off the ground,” Andresen said. “If Europe slows down purchases or signals sales, the yield pressure on US debt and the refinancing costs for the state and the economy increase.”
Europe therefore holds around ten percent of all US government bonds worth $1.5 trillion. The EU should “gradually shift the approximately 1.5 trillion US government bonds into European hands,” Andresen told the Germany editorial network. Because of the U.S. budget and current account deficits, the U.S. economy relies heavily on foreign capital. (afp)
Trump show starts with plane breakdown
9 a.m.: US President Donald Trump left late for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. After his presidential plane, Air Force One, had to turn back due to a technical problem, he took off for Switzerland on Wednesday around 6 a.m. CET on a new plane. According to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Trump will arrive in Davos around three hours late.
In Davos, Trump’s speech, which was originally scheduled for 2:30 p.m., is receiving a lot of attention against the backdrop of the Greenland crisis. Before his departure, Trump said he had “no idea” how his visit to Davos would go.
Trump wants to meet several heads of state and government in Davos after his speech on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. It is also said to be about the US plans to annex Greenland. The USA is represented in Davos this year with an unusually large delegation.
Trump had sparked strong criticism with his recent tariff threats against eight European countries that he identified as opponents of his claim to take over Greenland. French President Emmanuel Macron described these as “fundamentally unacceptable, even more so when they are used as a means of pressure against territorial sovereignty”. (afp)