US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent strongly defended President Donald Trump's controversial push to acquire Greenland during a television appearance on Sunday. He argued that European "weakness" makes American control of the island essential to prevent a future national emergency.
Bessent Calls Tariffs a Strategic Move to Avoid War
Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," Bessent explained the rationale behind recent tariffs imposed on eight European nations. These countries oppose Trump's ambition to bring Greenland under US sovereignty. The Treasury Secretary framed the 10% tariffs, set to rise to 25% in June, as a necessary geopolitical tool.
"It is a strategic decision by the president," Bessent told the network. "This is a geopolitical decision, and he is able to use the economic might of the US to avoid a hot war."
Defining the 'National Emergency'
When pressed to identify the specific national emergency justifying the tariffs, Bessent offered a circular justification. He stated that "the national emergency is avoiding a national emergency." His comments came just one day after President Trump vowed to implement these tariffs on EU members, including long-time ally Denmark, which currently administers Greenland.
Geopolitical Chess Match Against Russia and China
Bessent positioned the Greenland issue as a critical component of global power competition. He described the United States as the "strongest country in the world" but argued that controlling Greenland is crucial for winning against rivals.
"Europeans project weakness. US projects strength," Bessent said. "The president believes enhanced security is not possible without Greenland being part of the US." He explicitly named Russia and China as the adversaries in this geopolitical contest.
Predicting European Acquiescence
Despite current European outrage, including threats from French President Emmanuel Macron, Bessent predicted that European leaders would eventually accept US control of Greenland. He expressed confidence that they would "come around" to the idea.
"I believe that the Europeans will understand that this is best for Greenland, best for Europe, and best for the United States," he added during the interview.
Dismissing EU Trade Deal Threats
Bessent also downplayed European Union threats to halt a trade deal negotiated last year. He distinguished between regular trade agreements and the president's use of emergency powers for the Greenland issue.
"First of all, the trade deal hasn't been finalised, and an emergency action can be very different from another trade deal," Bessent explained. He emphasized that Trump "leverages his emergency powers to do this." These remarks were made ahead of the president's and secretary's scheduled trip to the Davos economic forum.
The Treasury Secretary's forceful defense highlights the administration's commitment to its Greenland strategy, using economic pressure as a primary tool to achieve its geopolitical objectives.
