The government of Greenland has issued a firm rebuttal to former US President Donald Trump's renewed interest in acquiring the vast Arctic territory, stating it "cannot under any circumstances accept" such a proposition. This declaration comes as NATO's Secretary General, Mark Rutte, confirms the alliance is actively exploring measures to strengthen security in the strategically vital region.
Diplomatic Tensions Rise Over Arctic Sovereignty
At the outset of a critical diplomatic week, Trump reiterated his desire for the United States to gain control of the mineral-rich island, ominously suggesting it would happen "one way or the other." His comments, which refused to rule out the use of military force, have sent shockwaves through European capitals and the NATO alliance, given that Greenland enjoys protections as part of the Kingdom of Denmark, a member of both the EU and NATO.
Greenland's foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, is scheduled to meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday, alongside her Danish counterpart, Lars Løkke Rasmussen. Denmark has consistently emphasised that Greenland is not for sale and has pointed to an existing 1951 treaty that already permits a significant expansion of the US military presence on the island, hoping for a diplomatic resolution.
Greenland Asserts Its Place in the Western Alliance
In a definitive statement released on Monday, the government in Nuuk clarified its constitutional and defensive position. It stressed that Greenland is "part of the kingdom of Denmark" and, "as part of the Danish commonwealth, a member of NATO." The ruling coalition announced it would redouble efforts to ensure its defence is managed "in the NATO framework," asserting a belief that Greenland will "for ever be part of the western defence alliance."
The statement further noted that "all NATO member states, including the US, have a common interest" in the island's defence. This positioning directly counters Trump's stated rationale, which cites the need to bolster Arctic security against perceived threats from China and Russia.
NATO and EU Respond to the Escalating Crisis
NATO's Secretary General, Mark Rutte, addressing the broader security context during a visit to Croatia, stated the alliance was "working on the next steps to make sure that we collectively protect what is at stake" in the Arctic. He highlighted unanimous agreement among allies on the region's importance, warning of increased Russian and Chinese activity as sea lanes open.
Meanwhile, the EU's response underscored the grave implications of US aggression. EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius stated that any US military action to seize Greenland would mean "the end of NATO." He pointed to Article 42.7 of the EU treaty, the bloc's mutual assistance clause, which would oblige member states to aid Denmark if it faced aggression. However, legal experts have questioned whether this clause would apply to Greenland, which left the EU's predecessor in 1985.
In a separate diplomatic move, a delegation of US senators, including Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, is due to visit Copenhagen to meet with the Danish parliament's Greenland committee. The committee's chair, Greenlandic politician Aaja Chemnitz, welcomed the dialogue as "absolutely crucial" to dispel the "lots" of incorrect claims circulating about the island's status.
The international dimension widened as China criticised the US interest. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson stated that the Arctic concerns the overall interests of the international community and called for the rights of all nations to conduct lawful activities there to be respected.
