Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said that last night’s meeting with US representatives in Washington was “not easy” and that there remains a “fundamental disagreement” over “the American ambition to take over Greenland.” In a Facebook post, she stressed that the Danish government would “continue our efforts to prevent this scenario from becoming a reality.”
Frederiksen noted a growing consensus within Nato to strengthen military presence in the Arctic as part of broader European and transatlantic security. She said Denmark has invested “significantly” in new Arctic capabilities and that a number of allies are expected to contribute to joint exercises. “The defence and protection of Greenland is a common concern for the entire Nato alliance,” she added.
European troops have begun arriving in Greenland as a result of threats by US President Donald Trump to annex the Arctic island. Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reiterated that “Greenland is not for sale” and does not want to be part of or governed by the US, adding that “dialogue and diplomacy are the right way forward.”
The Danish parliament announced it would fly the Greenlandic flag on Friday to show support for the semi-autonomous territory ahead of planned meetings between Danish, Greenlandic and US parliamentarians. Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron warned that “destabilising forces have awakened” and expressed concern over certainties being called into question, including the standoff over Greenland.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised a new security strategy for Europe against the backdrop of US threats. She described the US as a partner but said the EU is “doubling down” on economic support for Greenland. “Greenland can count on us politically, economically and financially,” she said, while stressing that Arctic security is a core issue for Nato.
