Washington: US President Donald Trump announced late Tuesday that he would not participate in the G-7 emergency meeting on Greenland proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron, despite planning several meetings on the issue in the coming days. Trump's remarks came during a news conference at the White House before his departure to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, which will include discussions about Greenland.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Trump mentioned that he had not spoken to Macron or British Prime Minister Kier Starmer since his recent post on Truth Social, but maintained that he has a good rapport with both leaders. He remarked on the challenges facing London and Paris, citing immigration and energy as key issues, and criticized their reliance on wind energy, suggesting they should leverage natural resources like the UK's North Sea.
When questioned about the possibility of attending the G-7 emergency meeting in Paris, Trump dismissed the idea, expressing skepticism about Macron's political longevity. He emphasized his focus on meetings with those directly involved in the Greenland discussions, asserting that the involved parties are keen on reaching an agreement with the US.
Tensions between Trump and European leaders have been ongoing, particularly regarding his intentions concerning Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, which he views as strategically significant for US national security. These discussions take place amid broader geopolitical and geoeconomic tensions, as Trump has threatened new tariffs on eight EU countries pending a deal on the island's annexation.