The speeches at Davos are usually mundane — laden with lofty declarations, rhetorical grandstanding, and posturing. They rarely make headlines. This event, however, was distinct, as spectators worldwide sought to assess US President Donald Trump’s plans to acquire Greenland and its implications for the trans-Atlantic partnership.

Europe waited with bated breath as Trump delivered his keynote speech at the World Economic Forum. In his quintessential style, Trump bragged about his dubious economic accomplishments, blasted former President Joe Biden for every evil in America, pilloried European leaders, blamed liberal and radical values for the decline of Western civilisation, reminded the world of American generosity, and left Europeans guessing on Greenland. The concession offered to Europe was that America would not use military force to acquire Greenland. But he reiterated his pursuit of acquiring it through negotiations.

Trump sought to justify the acquisition, stating that Greenland would have become a part of Germany had American soldiers not protected the region from Nazi assault. In exchange for what the US has done for Denmark and Europe over the last seven decades, Trump expects compensation in........

© Indian Express