MELT DON

Trump backs down on owning Greenland with deal for access to island | Tanaiste: EU kept cool heads & didn't respond to every Truth Social' post

- BY CIARA O'LOUGHLIN

DONALD Trump did a spectacular U-turn on demands to own Greenland and threats to tariff NATO allies after agreeing a "deal" on future access to the territory.

It came just hours after he warned European nations not to stand in the way of his wish to acquire the Arctic island.

A "framework" for the future defence of Greenland was agreed with NATO chiefs and the Danish Government.

But it's not clear if it gives the US anything new as America already enjoys military access to the vast territory.

Last night Tanaiste Simon Harris hailed the breakthrough as vindicating the united stance of European leaders.

The withdrawal of the threat of additional tariffs on European countries by President Trump is "a welcome development", he said.

Speaking from the World Economic Forum in Davos he added the "significant development" gave "credence and credibility" to the EU's strategy.

He said the bloc had "maintained cool heads" and had not responded to "every bit of political noise" nor "every Truth Social post".

He said: "There's much detail to emerge, and there's still obviously much volatility, but today we have heard the President of the United States rule out force in relation to Greenland.

"We've also now seen him withdraw the threat of additional tariffs.

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"But it is important we continue to work collectively as a European Union, and collectively to stand up for the sovereignty of Denmark and Greenland - Greenland being a part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

"And also collectively work to seek the full implementation of the trade agreements that we already agreed with the US administration - an agreement that is key to protecting economic activity on both sides of the Atlantic."