Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury secretary, said on the 19th local time that European countries' consideration of retaliatory tariffs in response to the so-called "Greenland tariffs" is "very unwise."
Meeting with reporters in Davos, Switzerland, where the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting opened that day, Minister Bessent was asked, "What do you think about Europe's retaliatory measures?" and answered accordingly.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said he would annex Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, announced on the 17th that he would impose a 10% tariff on eight European countries, including Denmark, that oppose the move starting on the 1st of next month. The tariff rate will rise to 25% starting June 1, and the measure will remain in place until the United States completes its purchase of Greenland.
In response, European countries, including the parties concerned, are criticizing President Trump and seeking a joint response. While a plan to impose retaliatory tariffs on the United States at the European Union (EU) level has been floated, there is speculation they are more likely to first attempt talks with Washington.
Minister Bessent said, "President Trump sees Greenland as a strategic asset for the United States," adding, "We will not entrust the security of our hemisphere (the Western Hemisphere) to anyone."
Regarding some interpretations that Trump's contentious stance on Greenland stems from failing to win the Nobel Peace Prize, Minister Bessent denied it as "a complete canard."
According to PBS, Trump wrote in a letter the previous day to Jonas Gahr Store, the prime minister of Norway, where the Nobel Committee is based, "Even though I stopped more than eight wars, since your country decided not to award me the Nobel Peace Prize, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely about 'peace,'" adding, "The world is not safe unless we have complete and comprehensive control over Greenland."
At this Davos forum, Minister Bessent said of the Trump administration's goals, "I think the message will be that America First does not mean American unilateralism," adding, "President Trump will talk about what U.S. leadership in the world should look like."
Meanwhile, President Trump is scheduled to deliver a speech at the Davos forum on the 21st. It will be his first in-person attendance at the forum in six years, and the largest U.S. delegation in years is set to join. The delegation includes Minister Bessent, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and presidential Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.