After a meeting in Davos with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, US President Donald Trump has backed off his tariff threats against Sweden and several other countries linked to Greenland. Sources say Rutte was the architect behind a vague oral agreement that temporarily resolved the crisis. EU leaders breathe a sigh of relief but promise to resist future pressures.
On January 22, 2026, US President Donald Trump met NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Davos, Switzerland, at the World Economic Forum. Following the talks, Trump announced on Truth Social that he had reached 'a framework for a future agreement' on Greenland and the Arctic, retracting tariff threats against Sweden, Denmark, and six other European countries. Leaks to the Washington Post and Bloomberg indicate the agreement is oral and vague, with no written documents to avoid leaks from Trump.
The deal's core involves ongoing negotiations granting the US veto power over Russian and Chinese investments in Greenland's minerals, as well as the ability to place missiles and establish military bases designated as US territory. Rutte is credited with showing Trump 'a path to de-escalation' and a 'landing zone' to save face amid EU threats of countermeasures, falling stock markets, and criticism from the US Congress.
A European source told the Washington Post: 'Rutte showed him a way. He showed him a landing zone and Trump liked it.' The Wall Street Journal confirms the agreement lacks real details, while Sky News calls it 'nonsense' and merely an exit for Trump.
At the EU's emergency summit in Brussels on January 23, leaders breathed a sigh of relief. Council President António Costa stated: 'The EU has the power and the tools to do it.' Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) noted that Trump's tone was trust-damaging, but unity forced his reversal. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized: 'We were successful by standing firm, without escalating, and while being very united.' Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen added: 'When Europe is not divided, stands together and is clear and strong – then we get results.'
Finnish President Alexander Stubb praised Rutte: 'We should just be grateful that he is our secretary general right now.' An anonymous diplomat called him 'very good at holding this alliance together in a difficult time.' Matthew Kroenig of the Atlantic Council described Rutte as 'one of Europe's most effective diplomats and Trump whisperers.' The crisis has heightened awareness of the need for unity against pressures.