US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has held a press conference at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he has made a number of startling statements about Greenland.
First, he repeats Trump's demand that Greenland be in American hands.
"Trump has made it clear that we will not outsource our national security in the Western Hemisphere to any other country," says Scott Bessent.
The Finance Minister urges people to await Trump's speech later today, as he is confident that Donald Trump's arguments will be convincing.
- Greenland should be part of the USA
The Finance Minister is also asked whether the US is creating a conflict with its allies by wanting to take Greenland:
- We ask our allies to understand that Greenland must be part of the United States, says Bessent and then draws a parallel to the sale of the West Indies in 1917:
- A little history lesson: The United States bought the West Indies from Denmark during World War I, says Bessent.
He then goes on to say that Denmark understood the importance of the United States being handed over the archipelago due to the islands' location in relation to the United States. And that the United States had also shortly before purchased the Panama Canal from France.
Only tariffs on countries that have sent troops to Greenland
At the press conference, the Minister of Finance also states that Donald Trump's announced tariffs will not affect Greenland, but only countries that have sent troops to Greenland:
- We will not impose a 10 percent tariff on Greenland. We will impose tariffs on the 8 countries that chose to send troops to Greenland.
- I'm not sure what signal they want to send by activating their troops.
In connection with a question about a possible sale of US government bonds, Scott Bessent calls Denmark an irrelevant country:
- Denmark's investments in US government bonds are, like Denmark itself, irrelevant. Less than 100 million dollars. I'm not worried at all, says Scott Bessent.
According to the program, Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at the conference in Davos at 11 a.m. Greenlandic time. However, the president is running late, so it may be later.
