Denmark skips Davos as Greenland dispute strains transatlantic ties

Danish officials will not attend this week’s World Economic Forum in Davos as tensions escalate over Greenland, a dispute that is increasingly straining transatlantic relations, Bloomberg reports.

The decision comes amid a sharp diplomatic rift following recent statements by US President Donald Trump. In a statement, the World Economic Forum said: “Danish government representatives were invited this year, and any decisions on attendance are a matter for the government concerned. We can confirm that the Danish government will not be represented in Davos this week.”

The controversy intensified over the weekend after Trump threatened to impose tariffs on goods from eight NATO allies, a move that prompted the European Union to consider retaliatory measures targeting up to €93 billion ($108 billion) worth of US exports.

On January 17, Trump announced plans to introduce a 10% tariff beginning February 1, with the rate rising to 25% in June unless an agreement is reached on what he described as the “purchase of Greenland.” The threat followed announcements by several NATO countries that they would carry out limited military planning exercises in Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, aimed at strengthening the defence of the strategically important Arctic island against potential threats from China and Russia.

By Vafa Guliyeva