Just as announced, Donald Trump made Greenland a central theme in his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos by demanding »immediate negotiations« for American acquisition.
The crisis of Greenland has cast dark clouds over NATO and European security for weeks, which is why all Northern European leaders made a point of going to Davos—where Trump’s attendance has been known since November.
That is: Everyone except Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen (S). Also absent were Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen (M), Troels Lund Poulsen (V), or any other members of the Danish and Greenlandic governments, who have unwillingly taken on roles as key figures in Trump’s attempt to acquire Greenland.
Donald Trump arrived in the Swiss alpine town on Wednesday, reportedly with a record-large American delegation according to the U.S. press.
Sweden’s Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, originally had no plans to travel to Davos, but according to SVT, the tense situation in recent weeks prompted him to change his travel plans.
»It is clearly a chaotic time right now. I will meet with the Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, and others later today. There is a certain anticipation throughout the day for Trump’s speech«, said Ulf Kristersson upon arrival in Davos, according to the Swedish public service station.
On Wednesday, Norway’s Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, was asked by VG what he would say to Trump if he had the opportunity to speak with him:
»The first thing would be to reiterate the Norwegian and European view on Greenland. It is entirely new and unacceptable that we, who have been in a common alliance for 75 years, should experience a country wanting to take over another country. I will make that very clear«, said Støre.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was also in Davos, and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb stated on Tuesday, upon his arrival in Davos, that he would spend the days correcting a number of misunderstandings regarding the Danish-led multinational exercise mission in Greenland, which on Saturday prompted Donald Trump to announce a trade war against the eight countries participating in the exercise.
No Danes
According to Politiken’s international commentator Michael Jarlner, several foreign media outlets have asked for Danish ministers—who have chosen to stay away. The Foreign Ministry confirms Denmark has no official representatives in Davos. As a result, Denmark has had no way to follow the corridor chatter except through second-hand accounts by phone and text.
Chief Analyst Christine Nissen from Tænketanken Europa will not judge whether it is wise or foolish for the government not to be in Davos.
But she notes that the Danish government’s ambition with last week’s meeting with Marco Rubio and J.D. Vance was precisely to de-escalate the conflict by talking face-to-face and avoiding polemics on social media, press conferences, and other platforms.
»In that light, it is an opportunity to have both an onstage and offstage dialogue with someone you really want to engage with. Even if the forum is somewhat unconventional«.
»We’re the focus of a historic geopolitical mega-crisis. That’s the talk in Davos at the moment, and frankly, we’re absent. It’s all about Greenland—and by extension Denmark—and Denmark isn’t there,« Christine Nissen said.
Politiken reports that at least five Danish ministers had the opportunity to take part in the Davos meeting.
First and foremost, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who reportedly declined the invitation at the end of last year. At that time, the White House had already confirmed in mid-November that Donald Trump would attend.
In addition to Frederiksen, Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, Finance Minister Nicolai Wammen (S), and Business Minister Morten Bødskov (S) have for various reasons chosen not to go to Davos.
The latter explained on Tuesday at Christiansborg that he stayed home because it had simply »become too expensive«.
»That’s a key reason. The other is that I need to meet with Danish business leaders this afternoon. All in all, we judged my time is better spent here than holding meetings with industry people in Switzerland,« Morten Bødskov told DR.
Later that day, Mette Frederiksen was asked by Børsen if it could really be true that no one from the government is in Davos because it is too expensive.
She neither confirmed nor denied.
»We are constantly considering how best to approach our work. And I can tell you that we are in contact almost around the clock with many different people. Both European leaders and also people, of course, in the American administration«.
»I have never personally attended the Davos meetings, but we continuously assess how best to safeguard our interests«, said Mette Frederiksen.
Risk of Escalation
Political science professor Ole Wæver sees Denmark’s absence as a deliberate choice, given the country has entered its most serious foreign-policy crisis in 70 years. He doesn’t buy that it’s a matter of scheduling priorities, despite that being one of the explanations offered.
»It’s probably a calculated call: being there could either escalate things or box us into direct negotiations with Trump on something that isn’t negotiable. Better to work the inside track with allies who are now standing firm for our case.«
But when Trump has clearly stated that he will use Davos to discuss Greenland, doesn’t that equate to asking your neighbor to handle the crucial part of your own house sale? Essentially leaving it to other heads of government to argue your case?
»Exactly. We’re not going to sell, so we shouldn’t enter into a meeting the other party spins as a sales situation. Better to let others do the talking and prevent any sales setup from taking shape,« Ole Wæver said.
Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen explained on Tuesday that he has meetings throughout the week with, among others, the EU’s foreign chief, Kaja Kallas, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and defense ministers from the Nordic countries and the UK:
»And if anyone thinks it’s a problem that the government isn’t in Davos, I think that’s wrong.«
It might look like you’re hiding from Trump?
»No, we’re not hiding from Trump or from the Americans. We’re talking to the Americans, and that’s why it’s good that we’ve now created the space for further dialogue with them.«
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