Trump to address leaders in Davos amid Greenland tensions

US President Donald Trump descends on Davos for a showdown with European leaders as his bid to seize Greenland threatens to tear the transatlantic alliance apart.

Mr Trump mocked Europeans a day before heading to the World Economic Forum, amid tensions over the fate of the autonomous Danish territory.

But leaders in the Swiss ski resort have closed ranks against Mr Trump's 'America First' stance, with French President Emmanuel Macron vowing to stand up against "bullies" and the EU promising an "unflinching" response.

"I'm going to a beautiful place in Switzerland where I'm sure I'm very happily awaited for," President Trump said with a smile at a White House briefing to mark his first year back in power, before leaving for Davos.

Asked how far he was prepared to go to acquire Greenland from Denmark, a fellow NATO member, Mr Trump replied: "You'll find out."

It comes as Mr Trump resumed his trip to the Davos forum early this morning, after a minor electrical issue forced his presidential plane to return to its air base.

President Trump and his entourage changed planes at Joint Base Andrews and took off again shortly after 5am Irish time, about two-and-a-half hours after his initial departure.

Mr Trump's eagerly awaited speech at the annual gathering of the world's economic and political elite, which he is attending for the first time in six years, is scheduled for 2.30pm (1.30pm Irish time).

But as the biggest rift opens between the United States and Europe in decades over his Greenland ambitions, Mr Trump said he would have a number of meetings on the issue at Davos.

'Downward spiral'

Mr Trump insists that mineral-rich Greenland is vital for US and NATO security against Russia and China as a melting Arctic opens up and the superpowers jostle for strategic advancement.

He has turned up the pressure by threatening tariffs of up to 25% on eight European countries for backing Denmark, prompting Europe to threaten countermeasures against the United States.

At Davos yesterday, Mr Macron warned against US attempts to "subordinate Europe", and blasted Mr Trump's tariff threats as "unacceptable."

Mr Macron was the subject of Mr Trump's mockery as he publicly revealed a text message from the French leader proposing a G7 summit in Paris on Greenland as well as Ukraine.

Mr Trump later said he would not join any such meeting, while Mr Macron clarified to AFP that no gathering was scheduled.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meanwhile warned that Mr Trump risked plunging US ties with the European Union into a "downward spiral".

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney - who has sought to reduce his own country's dependence on the US since President Trump called for it to become the 51st US state - won a standing ovation at Davos for his stance.

"Canada stands firmly with Greenland and Denmark," Mr Carney said.

In his Davos speech, the White House said Mr Trump wanted to focus on the US economy amid a cost of living crisis that threatens his Republicans in the 2026 midterms.

But the US president's extraordinary assertion of US power on the world stage one year into his second term means Greenland will form the backdrop to the address.

'End of NATO'

Greenland's prime minister said that his tiny population of 57,000 must be prepared for military force.

Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda told AFP at Davos that any such move by the United States against a fellow ally "would be the end of NATO."

Mr Trump said that he had done "more for NATO than anyone" and questioned whether allies would help the United States - despite the fact that Denmark was among those who did after the 11 September 2001 attacks.

Republican senator Thom Tillis, a member of a bipartisan US Congress delegation that has visited Copenhagen and Davos, told AFP however about the row, "I think it de-escalates over time."

Meanwhile, Mr Trump is set to formally announce the first charter of his so-called "Board of Peace," a body for resolving international conflicts with a $1 billion (€852.9 million) price tag for permanent membership.

The board was originally conceived to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza, but a draft of the charter seen by AFP does not appear to limit its role to the occupied Palestinian territory.

Mr Trump's invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin has caused particular consternation among US allies due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has gloated over the Greenland row, while sending a senior Mr Putin envoy to meet US officials on Ukraine in Davos.