President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for "immediate negotiations" with Denmark to "discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States."
But Trump, in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, said for the first time that he would not use military force in pursuit of the territory.
"I won't do that," Trump told the crowd of business and political leaders.
"Now everyone's saying, 'Oh, good,'" he quipped. "People thought I would use force. I don't have to use force. I don't want to use force. I won't use force."
Stocks, which had plummeted a day earlier amid Trump's increasing aggression toward Greenland, immediately rebounded after the president ruled out using the U.S. military against the island.
But Trump maintained that Greenland — an autonomous territory ruled by Denmark, one of America's NATO allies — is a must-have asset for U.S. national security.
And his remarks, which came days after he threatened new tariffs against eight NATO members related to the Greenland dispute, continued to ratchet up pressure on Europe.
"So they have a choice," Trump said. "You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no, and we will remember."
Trump's remarks at Davos focused heavily on Greenland. At times he played up the strategic importance of the Artic landmass, while at others he seemed to diminish it, repeatedly referring to the island as a "piece of ice."
On multiple occasions, he appeared to confuse Greenland with Iceland.
But he delivered one message consistently: Denmark and NATO, he contended, cannot defend Greenland from threats in the region.
"The fact is, no nation or group of nations is in any position to be able to secure Greenland other than the United States," he said.