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These maps explain the battle for the Arctic and Trump's 'own goal'

Donald Trump told the World Economic Forum at Davos that Greenland was "in a key strategic location between the United States, Russia and China". (Reuters: Denis Balibouse)

Donald Trump had been insisting Greenland would need to belong to the United States, but after a week of intensifying rhetoric over the Arctic island, it seems order has been restored on his European front, albeit with some damage done. 

Denmark says it has no knowledge of the deal Mr Trump is now touting, but the president of the United States says he has secured "total access" to its Greenland territory. 

The details of the deal are yet to be seen, but analysts argue that as part of a strong and trusted NATO alliance, access to Greenland for the US military has long been an option available to him. 

Fact-checking Donald Trump's Davos speech

In a free-wheeling speech to world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Trump made a series of contested claims.

Trump touched on his desire to obtain Greenland from Denmark – which he referred to as a "small ask", America's contribution to Nato, and wind energy in China.

His address – which lasted for more than an hour – contained a number of false assertions which BBC Verify has been looking at.

For weeks, Trump has spoken about his desire to acquire Greenland, a largely self-governing territory of Denmark. He has said it is critical to US national security.

Trump’s Greenland U-turn was spectacular. The lesson for Europe: strongmen understand only strength | Nathalie Tocci

With conflict averted for now, European leaders will be tempted to retreat to their comfort zone of cowardice. But the next crisis will soon be here

Donald Trump’s climbdown, after days of escalation during which he had refused to rule out a military attack to annex Greenland, was spectacular. In his Davos speech, Trump repeated his desire to own Greenland, claiming that you cannot defend what you do not own, only to then announce that he would not conquer the Arctic island by force. Hours later, he claimed that he had reached an unspecified deal on Greenland, and would therefore refrain from imposing additional tariffs on those European countries that had had the audacity to participate in a joint military exercise in Greenland at Denmark’s invitation.

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