Trump began his speech in Davos by boasting about what he described as the United States' successful economic policies.
When he later came to the issue of Greenland, he said he had great respect for both the people of Greenland and Denmark, but stated that the island must become American.
"We should have kept (Greenland) after World War II," he said, referring to the United States taking control of the island's defenses when Denmark was occupied by Germany.
But we didn't. There were other presidents then, unfortunately.
Now Trump wants to fix that by taking over Greenland, which he repeatedly describes as "a piece of ice."
I want to see immediate negotiations to once again discuss the US acquisition of Greenland, just as we have acquired many other territories throughout our history.
“Uninhabited and undeveloped”
However, he does not repeat his previous threat to invade Greenland.
"I don't need to use force, I don't want to use force. I will not use force," Trump said.
He described the island as a “central national security interest” for the United States.
Greenland is a vast, almost completely uninhabited and undeveloped territory.
It lies undefended in a strategically important location between the United States, Russia and China, he continued.
Only the United States can guarantee the security of Greenland, Trump claims.
No other nation or group of nations has that opportunity.
This would not be a threat to NATO. It would strengthen NATO. The United States has been treated so badly by NATO.
“Hottest country in the world”
The beginning of the speech focused on the US economy, and Trump listed what he said he had achieved in the past year.
We are the hottest country in the world.
The United States is the world's economic engine. You follow us up and you follow us down, he continued, saying that during the speech he wanted to "discuss" how others can follow the United States' example, as he sees it.
Some places in Europe are no longer recognizable, he claimed.
I love Europe, but it's not going in the right direction.
