Donald Trump touches down in Switzerland ahead of Davos speech

Donald Trump has landed in Switzerland for a showdown with European leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The US president touched down three hours late after his Air Force One was forced to U-turn in mid-air en route to a crucial summit.

The crew of the modified Boeing 747-200B made the call to abort the initial journey due to a minor electrical issue.

Trump is first meeting business leaders before he makes a speech to the World Economic Forum.

He is expected to address delegates and world leaders at 1.30pm UK time (2.30pm in Switzerland).

The Republican president is stepping into a fraught geo-political gathering, with European leaders slamming his threats towards Greenland.

French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the conference yesterday, telling them he prefers ‘respect to bullies’ and the ‘rule of law to brutality’.

The strong language came after Trump said he would place a 200% tariffs on French wine and champagne after Macron rejected an offer to join his international ‘Board of Peace’.

The Belgium Prime Minister Bart De Wever compared the US president to the ‘Very Hungry Caterpillar’ and said he was no longer behaving like an ally.

He told the forum: ‘We have to wake up, we have to rearm, we have to integrate our market and we have to seek new alliances.’

Trump said last week he would place 10% tariffs on several European countries, including the UK, until he was able to buy the Danish territory.

He threatened to increase that to 25% from June 1 if a deal is not agreed.

Is Keir Starmer going to Davos?

The Prime Minister is not planning to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed this morning.

He told the BBC: ‘The prime minister’s got other engagements and he will engage with President Trump in his own way.’

Starmer also came under fire from Trump over the UK government’s plan to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

The US leader called the arrangement ‘an act of GREAT STUPIDITY’ in a Truth social post on Tuesday morning.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Speaking in Swizterland this morning, she said the government would not rule out place retaliatory tariffs on the US.

This is a breaking news story and is being updated.

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