"Based upon a very productive meeting... with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region," Trump wrote. "Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs."

DAVOS (Switzerland), Jan 21: In a move reminiscent of several of his previous tactical pivots on issues displaying flexibility in dealing with national and international matters, President Donald Trump abruptly dropped his much-touted plan to seize Greenland militarily and in the same breath walked back his threat to impose significant tariffs on European allies who had opposed his mobve to acquire the Danish territory on the pretext of security.

Trump's 180-degree somersault followed a "very productive" meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday. Trump announced a "framework of a future deal" regarding Arctic security. Key details of this walk-back include:

Tariff cancellation: Trump scrapped plans to impose 10% tariffs starting February 1 on eight nations—Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland.

No military force: While reiterating interest in Greenland’s future, Trump explicitly ruled out the use of military force to acquire the territory.

Arctic security framework: The reversal is based on an agreement to bolster security cooperation in the Arctic region, which avoids immediate threats to Danish sovereignty while addressing US strategic concerns about Russia and China.

This shift has been described as a "de-escalation" of the Greenland crisis that had previously threatened the stability of the NATO alliance.

In a move reminiscent of his previous tactical pivots on several issues displaying flexibility in dealing with national and international matters,

The climbdown on Truth Social

After a week of escalating tensions over Greenland, Trump announced on Wednesday that he would shelve planned tariffs on eight European allies following a "very productive" meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

The reversal was made official in a characteristically bold post on Truth Social. Trump informed his followers that the 10% tariffs—which were set to hit Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland on February 1st—have been suspended.

"Based upon a very productive meeting... with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region," Trump wrote. "Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs."

Previously, Trump had threatened to hike those duties to 25% by June if a deal for the "Complete and Total purchase" of the territory was not reached. The sudden "framework" appears to have provided him with the necessary "win" to step back from an economic brink that had already begun to rattle global stock markets and prompted the European Parliament to freeze a separate US-EU trade deal.

A "Piece of Ice" for the "Golden Dome"

Earlier in the day, Trump’s tone at the World Economic Forum was far more combative. During a rambling special address, he lambasted European leaders as "unreliable partners" and insisted that the US has a historical and security-based right to Greenland. He described the territory as a "piece of ice" essential for his proposed "Golden Dome"—a new sophisticated missile defence shield.

Despite the aggressive rhetoric, Trump used his Davos appearance to formally rule out the use of military force to acquire the island, stating, "I don't have to, and I don't want to." Instead, he framed the new "framework" as a way to ensure Arctic security against Russian and Chinese influence, claiming the deal would be "for ever" and "fantastic for the USA."

Strategic flexibility or familiar pattern?

Critics and allies alike noted that this follows a familiar pattern of "brinkmanship followed by a thaw." Just as he did with the "Liberation Day" tariffs in 2025, Trump used a maximum-pressure tactic to force a high-level meeting, only to claim victory and de-escalate once the markets reacted poorly.

While Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen welcomed the "better note" to the day, the underlying tension remains. NATO officials clarified that the "framework" focuses on collective security and mineral rights rather than a transfer of sovereignty—a distinction that suggests the "Complete and Total purchase" Trump initially demanded remains a distant, if not impossible, goal.

Following his meeting with Rutte, Trump took to Truth Social to deliver the news that markets had been desperately awaiting. He claimed that the two leaders had established a "framework of a future deal" regarding Greenland and the broader Arctic region.

The President added that the deal would be "great for the USA and all NATO nations" and mentioned that discussions regarding the "Golden Dome"—his proposed missile defense shield—would continue as part of the negotiations.

Earlier in the day, the atmosphere in Davos was far more tense. During his special address to global leaders, Trump remained firm on his demand for "right, title, and ownership" of Greenland. He referred to the territory dismissively as a "piece of ice" and "cold and poorly located," but argued it was a strategic necessity that the US "saved" during World War II.

While he ruled out using military force—calling it "unnecessary"—he used the Davos stage to remind European allies of their "debt" to the US. "We want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won’t give it," he told the audience. "You can say yes and we will be very appreciative, or you can say no and we will remember."

A tactical retreat?

While Trump framed the suspension of tariffs as a victory resulting from a new "framework," diplomats in Davos remain skeptical. NATO officials noted that the "deal" currently focuses on collective security and mineral rights rather than the "complete and total purchase" Trump originally demanded.

The move to shelve the tariffs follows a familiar pattern seen in his first term and throughout 2025: a period of intense threats ("blowing hot") followed by a sudden de-escalation ("blowing cold") once he secures a high-level meeting or a symbolic concession. For now, the "Arctic Trade War" is on ice, providing a reprieve for the economies of Denmark, France, Germany, and the UK.

ANALYSIS: There have been cases of Britons going to Switzerland to get rid of a miserable life. Now once the House of Lords also passes the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, terminally ill Britons can call it quits with the help of a medical practitioner here itself. But the measure when comes into practice, will have very serious social consequences, it is feared. There won't be comparisons, even as tropes in Latin American folklores. The worst case scenario is of those who are not terminally ill also trying to misuse the provision to leave this world early when life with dignity is not available. But that is, in fact, a political question and not a moral imbroglio!

The CCTV footage and the video circulating on social media do not indicate any serious abnormalities in takeoff or descent, it has been confirmed. The disaster is becoming curiouser and curiouser. The flight path was not curvy. And the aircraft maintained a steady, gliding descent with its nose straight and the wings perfectly level. The pilot's distress call does not specify what prevented lift and climb-out. Here are some expert opinions. The sole purpose is to raise travellers' awareness about air travel.

Many of the victims were charred beyond recognition, making identification difficult. Three hundred nineteen body parts have been sent for DNA matching with relatives to determine the identities.

• The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla line provides Kashmir with all-weather connectivity and integrates the Valley with the rest of India.
• The saying 'Kashmir to Kanyakumari' is now a dream come true.
• The Chenab bridge on the line, an engineering marvel, is the world's highest railway bridge, taller than the Eiffel Tower. (Video: File)

A comment on social media on Kanimozhi's answer on the question of national language read: "Daughter of Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi. Delivered the Birthday Present to her Father!!" (Karunanidhi was born on June 3, 1924) (Today's headlines )

Trump said, "Elon is not really leaving" and will be "back and forth" to the White House because DOGE is his "baby." "I think he’s going to be doing a lot of things.”

Musk wrote: "My scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end... The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government." Now on it will be on auto-pilot.

PROGNOSIS: DOGE was prematurely born to protect the country by aborting an impending socio-economic disaster which very few people could see coming.

Although its immediate job was to save American taxpayers billions by slashing waste, eliminating fraud, cutting Government bloat and ensuring utmost efficiency in administration for the good of the people. (Today's headlines )

"Coming from a system like in England, empowering," she says she never had an idea of this sort of experience... being asked to “socialise with middle-aged men” who financed the event...humiliating...

Originally from Junagadh, Gujarat, Pataudi was relocated to Etawah Lion Safari in September 2019 before being transferred to Gorakhpur Zoo in 2021. Recently it was receiving treatment for pancreatic and liver infections. After tigress Shakti died in the zoo on May 7 due to bird flu, Pataudi was shifted to Kanpur. Some birds are also reported to have died mysteriously around Gorakhpur. All zoos in UP are closed for fear of a bird flu outbreak.

Three other animals too had died - a tiger, a leopardess and a female wolf. Wolf Bhairavi died last Saturday, leopardess Mona died the Thursday before that and tiger Kesari died on March 30. Some of them had Shakti's symptoms but the cause of death has not been confirmed yet.

As tourist inflow is an indicator of normalcy returning to an erstwhile terrorist infested Valley, the Government has been trying hard to make everything travel-friendly, launching lot many projects and bringing Kashmir on the national rail map that physically completes the process of Kashmir's integration with the rest of India. And that defeats the designs of Pakistan eyeing Kashmir and simply explains a recrudescence of terrorism in J&K.

The committee headed by justice Kurian Joseph will study Centre-State relations and make proposals to ensure foolproof separation of powers.

"It's a big victory not just for Tamil Nadu but for all Indian States. DMK will continue to struggle for and win State autonomy and Federal polity," Chief Minister MK Stalin said.

Of 2.08 km in length, it features 99 spans and a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that rises up to a height of 17 metres, facilitating smooth movement of ships while ensuring seamless train services to the holy town of Rameswaram on Pamban island.

ANALYSIS: There is a lot of hue and cry around the world over Trump's tariffs. But tariff, simply put, is a tax. But unlike tax, it affects the exporting country too. Domestic prices will go up for some time. Nothing more will happen, good or bad!

What motivated Trump's newfound policy, apart from being a stunt to justify his existence in the White House, is a false realisation that increased tariff will make foreign goods prohibitive, thereby boosting local production, and create more jobs, and more prosperity will ring in! If that is true, India would have been shining by now: Producing own Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail and Scotch Whiskies! And what about coconut and palm oil by America! (Today's headlines )

PROGNOSIS: It looks a Real New Trump is emerging - courageous, balanced, powerful and disinterested. Determined to save his country from the cliff, he has done quite a few draconian things that will reduce the burden of debts of the Federal entity, like the golden handshake, stopping senseless funding, pulling out of a worthless WHO. Shutting the Education Department is another. On the other hand, running it is also not the Centre's job either (We will convincingly elaborate it in the next chapter).

In India the scene is just the opposite. Centralisation is the core agenda and identity of the ruling dispensation without which it has no existence, or in other words, it exists for that set of schemes only. A realisation of this never dawned upon any Opposition party in 2014 or any time thereafter, what to talk of being able to see it coming 70 years ago! The consequence of all this violation of basic natural law of the universe we cannot predict.

THE AMERICAN CONUNDRUM: Political venom has migrated to top echelons in the US. It was reported last year NASA has become politicised, vitiated. But NASA refuted the charge. How Boeing developed a glitch but its unmanned return was smooth. When Suni-Wilmore were stranded last June, why the return was set for February? Because that comes only after January 20! SpaceX called the shots, for itself and for Trump. Then the mission was manipulated for March for a better bargain! In between, what made Elon Musk 'predict' during campaign if Kamala Harris wins he would be in jail. In politics, it is said, "the only rule is there are no rules." Difficult times for Americans too.

The terminations are part of a large-scale exercise going on all across Fed departments and organisations to reduce wasteful Government expenditure as decided by a Trump in a mess gone berserk, and improve administrative efficiency following the whims of billionaire and his associate Elon MusK and his DOGE. It has not been shared how terminations are going to raise the efficiency bar! It looks like Trump has stolen some of the prescriptions meant for India. But the American problems are quite different.

Suddenly these colonial clerks feel this effortless, little rule will tremendously enhance security and convenience for the railway passengers manifold. More stations will be covered in the next 77 years! (Also See: New Delhi station stampede... What went wrong?)

ANALYSIS: "The standard operating procedure for deportations by aircraft used by ICE that is effective from 2012 provides for the use of restraints," says the Government. That means, it is taken for granted the US will set the standard for deportations. For another, the Government is more interested in comparing with what happened in 2012 under a different Government to justify its own compliance! No surprise, others are trampling upon us. (How we conduct ourselves inside decides, inherently, how we are treated outside) Thirdly, the Government blamed the gangs doing the business of human trafficking for the illegal migration. For all the crimes taking place in the country, let us blame the criminals! Funny! We will never move an inch forward! The mindset defines what we are.

Meanwhile, a UN-returned Congress leader Shashi Tharoor sounded like a layman when he said, "If they are citizens of India we have an obligation to take them back." Who said 'No'?. He should know that is not the issue now. Who will identify an undocumented person, and how?