Norwegian PM says Greenland “almost an obsession" for Trump

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has described US President Donald Trump’s focus on Greenland as “almost an obsession,” following Trump’s abrupt withdrawal of threatened punitive tariffs against Norway and other allies.

Speaking on the Political Quarter on January 22, Støre said it was unprecedented for a US president to issue such a threat, and that the mere fact it was later dropped was significant. He added, however, that with Trump, decisions could change rapidly, underscoring the need for close attention to US actions, Caliber.Az reports via Norwegian media. 

Trump canceled the proposed tariffs on the evening of January 21 after what he described as a “very productive” conversation with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Following the discussion, Trump announced that the United States and NATO had agreed on a framework concerning Greenland.

Støre also noted that Greenland had been a central focus of Trump’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, suggesting that the president devoted more time to the territory than any other topic.

Earlier in the day, Trump had sought to reassure allies that he did not intend to use force.

“I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force,” he said at the forum, after suggesting that the US would be “unstoppable” if it chose to do so.

By Sabina Mammadli