Trump likely to make waves at biggest-ever World Economic Forum

By Morgan Sweeney
The Center Square

The largest-ever World Economic Forum braces to receive the largest-ever U.S. delegation, with President Donald Trump and others leaving Tuesday for Davos, Switzerland.

Over 3,000 leaders in politics, business and civil society will descend on the alpine resort town this week, with many having already arrived as the meeting began on Monday. The forum meets every year to discuss how emerging technologies can be used to address global problems, global strategies to reduce poverty and climate change and sustainability.

Trump is bringing what is reportedly the biggest-ever American contingent, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. The theme for this year’s meeting is ‘A Spirit of Dialogue,’ following a year in which Trump restructured U.S. trade agreements and reshaped relationships with Europe and others. How American foreign relations will emerge from the 2026 forum and how Trump will attempt to resolve certain looming questions – including Greenland – remain uncertain.

Greenland

The president’s ambitions for U.S. control over Greenland go back at least as far as his first term, and he has argued that the island is critical to American national security. The semiautonomous Danish territory offers vast natural resources and is needed for the construction of the anti-missile defense system the Golden Dome, according to Trump. Trump has said that China and Russia are eyeing the semiautonomous Danish territory and that it’s vital that it come under American control.

So far, European leaders have opposed Trump’s aims and expressed solidarity with Greenland. Denmark has increased its military presence in Greenland along with some of its “NATO allies.”

“Security in the Arctic is of crucial importance to the Kingdom of Denmark and our Arctic allies, and it is therefore important that we, in close cooperation with allies, further strengthen our ability to operate in the region,” said Danish Minister for Defense Troels Lund Poulsen in a statement.

Other countries confirmed they are also sending some troops there for military exercises.

On Saturday, the president threatened to impose new tariffs on some of these countries until “a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland.”

“Nobody will touch this sacred piece of Land, especially since the National Security of the United States, and the World at large, is at stake,” Trump wrote on social media.

He said that Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom would see a new 10% tariff on “all goods” sent to the U.S. starting Feb. 1, and on June 1, that tariff will increase to 25%.

“This is a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Planet. These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable,” Trump’s post read.

When asked at a Tuesday White House press briefing how far he was willing to go to acquire Greenland, the president said, “You’ll find out.”

Board of Peace

The Board of Peace is a new international body formed by the president to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction. The United Nations approved the concept of the board in November, but Trump may now envision a larger Board of Peace that includes the Gaza component but may function as a kind of U.N.

At the same Tuesday press briefing, Trump said he thought his board “might” replace the U.N., but followed it up by saying the U.N. should continue to exist.

“I mean, the U.N. just hasn’t been very helpful,” Trump said. “I’m a big fan of the U.N.’s potential, but it has never lived up to its potential.”

“I believe you got to let the UN continue, because the potential is so great,” he added a moment later.

Trump would chair the board. More details should be revealed in the coming days.

On the president’s agenda

The president is expected to deliver a Board of Peace charter announcement and is scheduled to speak to the forum at large on Wednesday morning. He will also meet with other world leaders and participate in a reception with business leaders.