Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said that the United States’ ambition to take over Greenland remains intact, following a “not easy” meeting with US representatives in Washington. In a Facebook post, Frederiksen acknowledged a “fundamental disagreement” and stressed that Denmark would “continue our efforts to prevent this scenario from becoming a reality.”
Frederiksen emphasised that the defence and protection of Greenland is a “common concern” for the entire Nato alliance, noting growing consensus within the alliance to strengthen military presence in the Arctic. She said Denmark has invested “significantly” in new Arctic capabilities and expects allies to contribute to joint exercises.
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.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned that “we live in a world where destabilising forces have awakened,” while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised a new security strategy for Europe. Von der Leyen said Greenland can count on the EU “politically, economically and financially,” and described Arctic security as a core issue for Nato.
