‘Can’t negotiate sovereignty’: Denmark PM calls for 'constructive' US-Nato dialogue over Greenland; wants 'respect for territorial integrity'

Denmark has said that Arctic security is a collective responsibility of the Nato alliance and should be discussed at the highest levels amid the lingering Greenland acquisition threat from US President Donald Trump. “The security of the Arctic is a matter for the entire NATO alliance,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said, adding that it was “good and natural” for the issue to be discussed between the Nato Secretary-General and the US President.

She said Denmark has “been working for a long time to ensure that NATO increases its involvement in the Arctic” and that the Danish government has coordinated closely with Greenland’s government, Naalakkersuisut, throughout the process. Frederiksen noted that she has been in regular contact with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, including before and after his meeting with President Trump in Davos.




Emphasising Denmark’s position, she said, “We can negotiate all politically; security, investment, economy. But we can’t negotiate our sovereignty.” She added that only Denmark and Greenland can take decisions on matters relating to their territories.

The Danish prime minister said the Kingdom of Denmark remains open to dialogue with allies on strengthening Arctic security, including the United States’ Golden Dome, as long as it is done “with respect for our territorial integrity.”

US-Nato talks

Talks with the United States on Greenland will focus on preventing Russia and China from gaining military or economic access to the Danish Arctic territory, Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on Thursday.

Rutte’s remarks came a day after his discussions with Trump in Davos, after which Trump eased earlier threats to seize Greenland, saying a “framework” for a deal on the island had been agreed.

“It was a very good discussion,” Rutte said at a World Economic Forum event on Ukraine, reported by AFP. He added that future negotiations would build on his meeting with Trump and involve NATO allies—especially the alliance’s seven Arctic members—to ensure the region remains secure. A key objective, he said, is to keep “the Russians and the Chinese out” of the Arctic.