US President Donald Trump has said Washington is exploring a potential deal on Greenland after talks with Nato, backing away from threats to impose tariffs on European allies who opposed his long-standing ambition for the United States to acquire the Arctic island.

In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump described his discussions with Nato as “very productive” and claimed they had resulted in a “framework” for a future agreement, though he offered few details.

“We have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region,” Trump wrote. “This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all Nato Nations.”

However, there was no indication of any agreement that would meet Trump’s repeated demand for US “ownership” of Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Diplomatic sources told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, that there was no deal for American control or ownership of the island.

Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff would “report directly” to him as negotiations continue.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen struck a cautious but conciliatory tone, saying: “The day is ending on a better note than it began.” He added that Denmark was ready to discuss American security concerns in the Arctic while “respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark.”

After meeting Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Trump told reporters that any possible arrangement could involve mineral rights. He also suggested European allies could cooperate on his proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence system.

Along with its strategic location, Greenland is believed to hold vast but largely untapped reserves of rare earth minerals crucial for technologies such as electric vehicles and mobile phones.

“It’s the ultimate long-term deal,” Trump said. “It puts everybody in a really good position, especially as it pertains to security and to minerals. It’s a deal that’s forever.”

Rutte later said the issue of Danish sovereignty over Greenland was not discussed. “The issue did not come up anymore in my conversations tonight with the president,” he told Fox News.

A Nato spokeswoman said negotiations among Denmark, Greenland and the United States would aim to ensure that “Russia and China never gain a foothold – economically or militarily – in Greenland.” But Greenlandic lawmaker Aaja Chemnitz criticised the idea of Nato involvement in discussions over the island’s resources, saying: “Nothing about us without us.”

US media reported that one option under consideration could allow Washington to expand its military presence on the island, possibly under an arrangement similar to British bases in Cyprus. The US already maintains more than 100 personnel at its Pituffik base in north-west Greenland and, under existing agreements with Denmark, can deploy additional troops if it wishes.

Trump had previously threatened to impose tariffs of up to 25 percent on goods from several European countries, including Denmark, unless a deal was reached to sell Greenland to the US. Following his meeting with Rutte, he said those plans had been shelved.

“Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st,” Trump said.

Addressing the WEF, Trump reiterated his desire to acquire Greenland but ruled out the use of military force. “I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force,” he said, while warning that a refusal would not be forgotten.

Trump also used his Davos speech to criticise French President Emmanuel Macron over trade issues and to lash out at Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, underscoring ongoing tensions with key US allies even as he signalled a softer tone on tariffs.