US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats against NATO allies are a “strategic” geopolitical decision to use the country’s “economic might” to “avoid a hot war”, according to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
“The national emergency is avoiding a national emergency,” Mr Bessent told NBC News’ Meet the Press on Sunday.
Mr Bessent said that Mr Trump is trying to “avoid a conflict” by annexing Greenland.
“What we know is that Greenland can only be defended if it is part of the US, and it will not need to be defended if it is part of the US,” he continued.
“I believe that the Europeans will understand that this is best for Greenland, best for Europe and best for the United States.”
Mr Bessent added that “there will not be a conflict, because the United States, right now, we are the hottest country in the world”.
“Europeans project weakness,” he said.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said “Europe won’t be blackmailed” in response to Trump’s threat to tariff eight Nato members over Greenland.
Meanwhile, N
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