Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said President Trump views Greenland as crucial to Western Hemisphere security, arguing that the US cannot outsource national defense amid rising global threats.
Live on stage in Davos, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent outlined President Donald Trump’s plans for Greenland and explained why the area is critical to US national security.
“The president is concerned that if an invasion of Greenland were to occur, the United States would be called upon to defend Greenland. Greenland is becoming increasingly attractive to foreign conquest,” he continued. “And he strongly believes that it should be part of the United States to avoid a conflict, rather than involving the US and exposing it to a hot conflict.”
KUDLOW: PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS THE RIGHT TO TAKE OVER GREENLAND
The world’s largest island has become a strategic prize — one that caught President Donald Trump’s attention long before most Americans paid attention to it. A semi-autonomous Danish region, Greenland is home to a major US military base and has become increasingly important to global security and trade as melting ice opens new shipping routes and access to natural resources.
Scott Bessent speaks during a press conference outside the USA House at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 19, 2026. (Getty Images)
That shift underlines the serious geopolitical calculation behind Trump’s interest in the island’s location, its military value and the rapidly changing Arctic.
President Trump, who has pushed for the US to acquire Greenland, continued to press the issue early on Tuesday.
“I had a very good telephone conversation with Mark Rutte, the Secretary General of NATO, about Greenland. I agreed to a meeting of the different parties in Davos, Switzerland. As I said very clearly to everyone: Greenland is crucial for national and global security. There is no turning back – everyone agrees on that!” the president stated in part from a Truth Social post.
“There is a chance that the US will become embroiled, exposed to a kinetic war if another country invades Greenland,” Bessent continued, “and no country will claim control of Greenland if the US controls Greenland.”
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“I tell everyone, ‘Sit back, take a deep breath. Don’t retaliate. Don’t retaliate,'” Bessent said. “The president will be here tomorrow and he will deliver his message.”
Trump will speak at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum on Wednesday. Bessent said he believes Trump has also planned meetings in Davos to discuss Greenland and encouraged people to “keep an open mind” about the “why” of this “rapid response.”
