European Officials Say Rutte–Trump Greenland 'Framework' Blindsided Allies and Leaves Deal Terms Unclear
At Davos, President Trump said he and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte had reached a "framework" on Greenland and tied that understanding to his decision to back off threatened European tariffs. Rutte told reporters the talks focused on Arctic security rather than Danish sovereignty, but European allies, Denmark, Greenland's premier and NATO officials say they were blindsided, that the deal's terms are unclear, and that further bilateral talks will now be set up with participants, timing and details to be determined.
📌 Key Facts
- At Davos, Trump publicly said he reached a "framework deal for Greenland" and tied his decision to back off European tariffs to that framework, a claim captured on camera by CBS.
- Mark Rutte told Fox News he did not discuss the U.S. taking control of Greenland with Trump; he said their talks focused on protecting the Arctic from growing Russian and Chinese activity and framed follow‑on work as a NATO‑style security framework rather than a territorial transfer.
- Rutte praised Trump’s role in pushing NATO defense spending toward the 5% benchmark and endorsed Trump’s Arctic‑security concerns as "totally right" (per Fox News coverage).
- Two European diplomats told MS NOW that Rutte negotiated the Greenland "framework" with Trump on his own, surprising and blindsiding other European officials who had coordinated to oppose Trump’s Greenland demands and tariff threats.
- A Danish official told MS NOW that Trump and Rutte agreed Denmark and the U.S. will "begin talking," with work underway on the structure, timeline, and participants for bilateral discussions and a mutual understanding that neither side will comment on what happens "in the room."
- Rutte confirmed he did not raise Danish sovereignty in talks with Trump; Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated that "we cannot negotiate on our sovereignty."
- Greenland’s premier Jens‑Frederik Nielsen said he does not know what is in the proposed deal, and NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, said the alliance had no prior knowledge of the framework and only learned of it when everyone else did.
- An EU official warned that the Rutte–Trump agreement, while easing immediate tariff pressure, may be "the best way to divide us" after EU states had tried to stay united against Trump’s Greenland tariff threats.
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
January 24, 2026
12:00 AM
NATO chief’s Greenland deal with Trump blindsides European allies
New information:
- Two European diplomats say Rutte negotiated the Greenland 'framework' with Trump on his own, surprising other European officials who had coordinated to oppose Trump’s Greenland demands and tariffs.
- A Danish official tells MS Now that what Trump and Rutte agreed is essentially that Denmark and the U.S. will now 'begin talking,' with work underway on the structure, timeline, and participants for bilateral discussions, and with a mutual understanding that neither side will comment on what happens 'in the room.'
- Rutte confirms he did not raise Danish sovereignty over Greenland in his talks with Trump, while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterates that 'we cannot negotiate on our sovereignty.'
- Greenland’s premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen says he does not know what is in the proposed deal, and NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, says the alliance had no prior knowledge of the framework and only learned of it when everyone else did.
- An EU official warns that the Rutte–Trump agreement, while relieving immediate tariff pressure, may be 'the best way to divide us' after EU states had tried to stand united against Trump’s Greenland tariff threats.
January 22, 2026
1:19 AM
Top NATO official reveals details of stunning meeting with Trump that produced Greenland deal 'framework'
New information:
- Mark Rutte tells Fox News the question of the U.S. taking control of Greenland from Denmark ‘did not come up’ in his Davos conversations with Trump, despite Trump touting a Greenland ‘framework.’
- Rutte says their discussions focused on protecting the Arctic as Russia and China grow more active there, not on changing Greenland’s sovereignty.
- Rutte strongly praises Trump’s role in NATO, claiming Trump ‘brought a whole of Europe and Canada up to this famous 5%’ defense‑spending benchmark and calling that ‘crucial’ to equalizing spending and protection.
- Rutte endorses Trump’s concern about Arctic security as ‘totally right,’ while framing follow‑on work as a NATO‑style security framework rather than a territorial deal.
January 21, 2026
11:27 PM
Trump says he reached a "framework" on Greenland, backs off European tariffs
New information:
- Confirms that in his Davos remarks Trump personally described the outcome as a 'framework deal for Greenland'.
- Reinforces that the decision to back off European tariffs was explicitly tied, in his own framing, to that Greenland 'framework'.
- Provides on‑camera attribution and phrasing of Trump’s claim via CBS’s Davos coverage (Ed O’Keefe segment plus expert analysis).