By Jessie Yeung, CNN
(CNN) — Just a few days ago, European leaders were scrambling to respond to US President Donald Trump’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric about taking control of Greenland, and bracing for an avalanche of insults as he arrived to speak on their home turf.
As expected, Trump slammed European officials on a variety of issues, as he spoke at Davos in the Swiss Alps. But he also ruled out using force to annex the Danish territory he covets, lowering the temperature on an issue that threatened the future of the NATO military alliance.
He then went one step further in a meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte – announcing afterward that they’d reached an agreement on a possible deal on Greenland, and that he would no longer impose tariffs on European nations opposed to his ambitions to acquire the Arctic island.
It’s not yet clear what’s included in the framework, or Rutte’s exact role in the negotiations. But Trump’s stunning about-turn has once again shone the spotlight on the NATO secretary general, who has emerged as a pivotal figure for a frazzled Europe struggling to get through to the US president.
At first glance, they make an unlikely pair. Rutte, a mild-mannered technocrat, is the Netherlands’ longest-serving prime minister, having concluded a 14-year tenure that reflects his pragmatism and ability to forge consensus on thorny issues. He’s also known for his easygoing, relaxed image, riding a bike to work even when running the country.
Trump, meanwhile, is a former real estate mogul and TV personality known for his unorthodox moves and a tendency toward unilateralism – traits which have upended global politics for much of the past decade.
But their relationship goes back years. As Dutch leader from 2010 to 2024, Rutte made several visits to Washington, DC, during Trump’s first term, laying the ground for a charm offensive that appears to have served him – and the military alliance he now heads – well.
The 58-year-old’s most famous act of Trump-soothing diplomacy came at a NATO meeting last year. After the US president used an expletive in response to hostilities between Israel and Iran, and then the analogy of two children fighting to describe their deadly conflict, Rutte joked in front of the world’s cameras: “Daddy has to sometimes use strong language.”
The exchange instantly went viral, making headlines and prompting incredulity from viewers. It appears to have stuck with Trump, too – speaking at Davos on Wednesday, he said at one point, “They called me ‘Daddy,’ right? Last time. A very smart man said, ‘He’s our Daddy.’”
Rutte has publicly praised Trump on other matters – the US strikes on Iran, Trump’s efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, and even the president’s pressure campaign on European countries to step up their defense spending.
The flattery extended to their private text messages – which Trump has shared on social media multiple times.
“Mr President, Dear Donald. What you accomplished today in Syria is incredible,” Rutte wrote in a recent message that Trump posted to Truth Social late Monday night, ahead of his arrival in Davos. Rutte ended with a chummy sign-off: “Can’t wait to see you. Yours, Mark.”
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