STORY: Greenlanders voiced relief but remained wary on Wednesday (January 21) after U.S. President Donald Trump ruled out using military force to take over the Arctic island in a speech in Davos.

Boat captain Isak Brandt said the remarks lifted "a huge relief" after months of anxiety, but warned "you never know with Donald Trump."

Tour guide Ivi Luna Olsen said she was "thrilled" by the pledge yet was still "preparing for the worst," fearing the U.S. president "still really wants to take Greenland."

Trump said on Wednesday he would not take over Greenland by force, but stuck firmly to his demands for control of the Danish territory during a speech in Davos and hinted at consequences if his ambitions were thwarted.

Rather than focusing on the economic message his aides had previewed, Trump delivered more than an hour of scolding and threats aimed at countries already unnerved by his push to seize territory from Denmark, which is a longtime U.S. NATO ally.

He chastised Europeans on issues ranging from wind power and the environment to immigration and geopolitics, while casting himself as a defender of Western values.

And while he took the threat of force off the table for Greenland, Trump bragged about U.S. military might, citing recent operations such as the shock ousting of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro earlier this month.

Calling Denmark "ungrateful," the Republican U.S. president played down the territorial dispute as a "small ask" over a "piece of ice" and said an acquisition would be no threat to the NATO alliance, which includes Denmark and the United States.

Trump said Greenland was crucial to the "Golden Dome" missile‑defence system and urged immediate negotiations.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: PEOPLE REACTING TO U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S DAVOS SPEECH

EDITORS NOTE: REFILING EDIT TO EXTEND SOUNDBITE IN SHOT 5 IN FULL

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: NUUK FJORD, GREENLAND (JANUARY 21, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. BOW VIEW OF A VESSEL APPROACHING LAND

2. VIEW OF NUUK FROM A VESSEL

3. VARIOUS OF ICE AND SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS SEEN FROM MOVING VESSEL

4. VARIOUS OF WHEELHOUSE

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BOAT CAPTAIN, ISAK BRANDT, SAYING:

"I would say a lot, actually. It feels like a huge relief. And in many ways, because of course, I and many other Greenlandic people have been super worried about what might happen because there have been talks about using force. So it makes me super relieved. But again, you never know with Donald Trump. Like he has been known for saying stuff and doing the opposite."

6. WHEELHOUSE INTERIOR

7. VARIOUS OF ROYAL DANISH NAVY OFFSHORE PATROL VESSEL

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BOAT CAPTAIN, ISAK BRANDT, SAYING:

"Well, like, for me, you know, it doesn't feel like everything is over just because a statement like that is out. So I still feel like everything can happen. So it's only up to time. Time will tell what happens."

9. VARIOUS OF ICE AND SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS, MELTING, SEEN FROM VESSEL

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOUR GUIDE, IVI LUNA OLSEN, SAYING:

"I'm very thrilled to hear that, first of all, because he has been saying a lot of stuff about taking Greenland with force, like he'll do it the hard way, which is so scary to hear. And I'm just thrilled that he has now announced that. But I'm also like keeping my hopes down and still, like, hoping for the best and preparing for the worst because sometimes he can be saying a lot of stuff."

11. VARIOUS OF ICE AND SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAINS SEEN FROM VESSEL

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOUR GUIDE, IVI LUNA OLSEN, SAYING:

"I do think that he still really wants to take Greenland. But again, I try not to think too much about it because it can be so consuming and like it takes over like your everyday life, if you think too much about it."

13. VARIOUS OF BOAT MOVING ALONG THE COASTLINE