Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (center) and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen (left), in Nuuk, Greenland, on January 23, 2026. MARKO DJURICA/REUTERS
While President Donald Trump adopted a softer tone at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, January 22, regarding his ambitions on Greenland, technical talks began so that an "agreement" could be reached with Denmark and NATO allies to bring his plans to fruition. Trump's goal is mainly to open new "military access [points]" with "total access" on the Inuit island, he told Fox News on Thursday.
A "framework" document was drafted and presented to the allies on Thursday. Ambassadors from NATO member countries were briefed soon after, according to a source in the organization. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, meanwhile, spoke with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Friday to present her with the available options. Trump said he expected a response from these discussions within two weeks.
At this stage, it remains unclear how these discussions fit within the existing legal framework, in place since World War II and amended in 2004. But beyond posturing, and after two weeks of crisis, the United States now appears to be moving into a more conventional negotiation process, similar to how military powers establish bases abroad. In such negotiations, the presence of troops is often traded, sometimes at a high price.
