U.S. President Donald Trump ruled out the use of force in his bid to control Greenland on Wednesday (January 21), but said in a speech in Davos that no other country can secure the Danish territory.

"People thought I would use force, but I don't have to use force," Trump said at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Switzerland. "I don't want to use force. I won't use force."

Trump made the comments in a closely-watched economic speech that has been overshadowed by fraying transatlantic ties and tensions with Europe over his push to acquire Greenland.

He downplayed the issue as a "small ask" over a "piece of ice" and that an acquisition would be no threat to the NATO alliance that includes Denmark and the United States.

Trump, who marked the end of a turbulent first year in office on Tuesday (January 20), is set to overshadow the agenda of the WEF, where global elites chew over economic and political trends.

NATO leaders have warned that Trump's Greenland strategy could upend the alliance, while the leaders of Denmark and Greenland have offered a wide array of ways for a greater U.S. presence on the strategic island territory of 57,000 people.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: DAVOS, SWITZERLAND (JANUARY 21, 2026) (WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM - Access all)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, SAYING: (SOUNDBITE BEGINS ON WIDE SHOT OF TRUMP DELIVERING SPEECH)

"We never asked for anything and we never got anything. We probably won't get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force where we would be, frankly, unstoppable. But I won't do that. Okay. Now everyone's saying, 'Oh, good'. That's probably the biggest statement I made, because people thought I would use force. I don't have to use force. I don't want to use force. I won't use force. All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland. Where we already had it as a trustee, but respectfully returned it back to Denmark not long ago after we defeated the Germans, the Japanese, the Italians and others in World War Two, we gave it back to them."