Apart from the snow and the temperature, Greenland does not have much in common with the Swiss alps. But the fight for the future of the island looms over the gathering of world leaders and businesses at the World Economic Forum (WEF) this week.
Indeed, the timing of Donald Trump’s extraordinary threat seems likely to have had this meeting in mind.
Trump loves Davos – which is beyond strange given the views of his base.
Last year, he beamed himself into the WEF from the White House, appearing before an audience of largely bewildered European executives just two days after his inauguration.
There was awkward shuffling as he mentioned his territorial ambitions for Canada and Greenland, and made an “offer you can’t refuse” to those importing into his country. Build factories in the US or pay tariffs that will raise trillions: “Your prerogative.”
He did it with a smile, however, apologised for not attending in person and promised he would be there this year.
And on Wednesday he will be here, pushing the Team USA message at a time of bewilderment in much of the rest of the world, especially in Europe.
Trump is due to speak at what will be the biggest Davos ever, driven by his presence and his policies, which have caused what one of the cerebral sessions of WEF might refer to using a snappy title like “The Great Global Disruption”.
Trump is the disruptor-in-chief, certainly right now. He will be pursued by other world leaders and corporate bosses about his attempt to coerce Europe economically to sell Greenland.
The forum will be the centre of the world this week – and totally bizarre.
“A spirit of dialogue” is the official theme, and while there are certainly opportunities at an event like this for conversations not possible elsewhere, there is much in the US administration’s approach that seems to be opposed to the call for global cooperation that is the essence of this place.
