Denmark Called 'Irrelevant' by US Treasury Ahead of Davos Speech

Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature EU parliament to discuss EU-US trade after of expected decision to freeze implementation of trade deal Lisa O’Carroll European parliament will discuss EU and US relations in parliament at its plenary session in Strasbourg this morning. Later today, likely early afternoon, representatives from the political groupings will meet to confirm their decision not to go ahead with a vote ratifying last summer’s US trade deal in the wake of Donald Trump’s declarations will take over Greenland. This is a significant move by the parties as, unlike the political statements denouncing Trump’s threats, it will delay the implementation of the 0% tariffs on many US imports to the EU, agreed in August. MEPs had been arguing for changes to the deal including the reduction in the 50% tariffs on steel and the 15% tariff on drinks, which had previously been set at close to zero. Share Alaskan Inuits express unity with Greenlandic relatives over Trump threats Miranda Bryant Nordic correspondent in Copenhagen As Greenland, Denmark and much of the world braces for Donald Trump’s address to Davos, Alaskan Inuit representatives have said that Inuit people across the Arctic “stand united” and that the region must remain a “zone of peace”. Alaska-Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC Alaska) said it stood in solidarity with “our Greenlandic relatives”. Marie Greene, ICC Alaska President, said: “It is important that we go back to the founding purpose of Inuit Circumpolar Council, to stand united as Inuit, and that is the basis in which we stand united with our Greenlandic relatives.” Robert (Bobby) Evans, an ICC Alaska board member, added: “Yes, we are Americans, but we were Inuit first, and always will be. It is part of our culture to take care of our people, and to stand beside our relatives, all across the Arctic.” In a statement, the organisation reiterated the Inuit position “that the Arctic must remain a zone of peace” and called on the US government to “respect and uphold” international law that respects diplomacy and Inuit rights. Vivian Korthuis, secretary of the ICC Alaska board, said: “For Inuit, peace in the Arctic is not an abstract principle; it is about protecting our homelands, our families, and the future of our children.” Meanwhile, in Greenland, a tourism operator has withdrawn its controversial invite to Jeff Landry, the US special envoy to Greenland, to attend an annual dog sled race after criticism amid escalating tense US-Greenland relations. Tourism operator Kristian Jeremiassen said he was “disappointed” that he had to withdraw the offer to visit Avannaata Qimussersua in March, reports Sermitsiaq. Share 'Future of Greenland is only for Greenlanders to decide,' EU's von der Leyen reiterates European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen reiterated that “the future of Greenland is only for the Greenlanders to decide” as she warned that Europe needs to “transform the ways in which we think and act” to step up to challenges posed by the rapidly changing world order. She said that Europe needed to realise “we now live in a world defined by raw power,” adding that “in this increasingly lawless world, Europe needs its own levers of power” and abandon its “traditional caution” to build on its economic might and become more independent. Speaking at the European parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg, von der Leyen also repeated the key lines from her Davos speech yesterday, warning that the US threat of tariffs on EU partners over Greenland could send the relations into “a dangerous downward spiral” and “only embolden the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out of the strategic landscape.” “Greenland is not just a territory in a key region of the world map, and the land rich in critical raw materials, a strategic outpost on emerging global sea routes. It’s all of these things, but above all, Greenland is home to a free and sovereign people. It is a nation with its sovereignty and its right to territorial integrity, and the future of Greenland is only for the Greenlanders to decide,” she said. Von der Leyen also said “it is more important than ever that we keep focusing on Ukraine,” continuing the bloc’s support for the wartorn country. Share Morning opening: Brace, brace Jakub Krupa What is he going to say, then? After days of speculations, today is the day, as Donald Trump is set to address the World Economic Forum in Davos, talking about his latest thinking on the emerging new global order, business, trade, the US role in the world, and, erm, whatever else he will come up with on the spot. It’s fitting that his slot comes a day after Canadian prime minister Mark Carney warned in his now viral speech that the US-led global system of governance is enduring “a rupture,” defined by great power competition and a “fading” rules-based order. “More recently, great powers began using economic integration as weapons. Tariffs as leverage. Financial infrastructure as coercion. Supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited,” he said. Yes, he meant Donald Trump. Let’s see what the US presidents wants to say in response. There is a very long list of things that European leaders – some in the room, some glued to their computers and TVs (good morning, Copenhagen) – will be looking out for as they want to figure out Trump’s next steps on Ukraine, Nato, and EU-US trade. And it’s more likely than not that they will not like the answers. US treasury secretary Scott Bessent offered a taste of what is likely to come as he replied to a question on Danish investments in the UK last night by saying, in a bullish style that we have become accustomed to from this administration, that “Denmark’s investment in US treasury bonds, like Denmark itself, is irrelevant.” Before then, we will also hear from a number of other key European leaders attending Davos, including Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte and Finland’s influential president Alexander Stubb. Let’s see what they have to say. I will bring you all the updates here. It’s a busy day ahead. It’s Wednesday, 21 January 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live. Good morning. Share Updated at 04.35 EST