Arctic

Greenland Premier and Denmark: 'Island sovereignty is red line'. Trump-Rutte agreement only verbal

Trump: ongoing negotiations guarantee 'total' access to island defence infrastructure

22 January 2026

Il presidente del Naalakkersuisut, il primo ministro della Groenlandia Jens-Frederik Nielsen (a sinistra) e il primo ministro danese Mette Frederiksen rilasciano una dichiarazione sulla situazione attuale durante una conferenza stampa nella Sala degli Specchi dell'Ufficio del Primo Ministro a Copenaghen, Danimarca. EPA/LISELOTTE SABROE

5' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

5' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

On Thursday, Greenland Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen held a press conference in Nuuk: 'Greenland's sovereignty and territorial integrity are a red line,' emphasising that no one but Greenland and Denmark is entitled to conclude agreements concerning the island. Nielsen added that in front of the United States Nuuk 'chooses Denmark and Europe'. Greenland wants to 'continue a peaceful dialogue' and defends its right to self-determination, he added.

The Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, also spoke in the same tone on the Greenland issue: 'We have red lines. I think it is clear to everyone that we are a sovereign state and that we cannot negotiate on this, because it is part of the most basic democratic values,' she said. "Of course, we can discuss with us how we can strengthen our security cooperation in the Arctic region, but I have said from the beginning that a discussion about our status as a sovereign state cannot be discussed. It cannot be changed. We are willing to cooperate, of course, as we have always done in security matters, but our red lines, which are also our democratic rules, cannot be discussed," he emphasised.

With the US, 'we have worked closely together for many years, but we must work together respectfully, without threatening each other, and so, of course, I hope to find a political solution within the framework of democracy and our cooperation as allies,' he concludes.

Trump-Rutte agreement only verbal

Donald Trump and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte reportedly reached a purely verbal understanding on Greenland during their meeting in Davos yesterday, without producing any formal document outlining a future agreement for now. This was reported by CNN citing sources with direct knowledge of the talks, according to whom the parties agreed to continue discussions in the coming weeks.

According to the same sources, Trump and Rutte talked about updating the 1951 agreement between the US, Denmark and Greenland that regulates the US military presence on the island. The framework of the understanding would also include a commitment to exclude Russia and China from any investments in Greenland and a strengthened NATO role in the Arctic region.

Two sources added that among the items under discussion would be increased US access to the island's natural resources, including mining resources. Rutte, however, denied on Thursday that he had directly addressed this issue with Trump.

Kallas: "Transatlantic relations have suffered a blow"

EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, on her arrival at the informal European Council in Brussels, said: 'Any kind of disagreement that allies have with each other, like Europe and America, is only benefiting our adversaries, who look the other way and enjoy the view. So, hopefully we are investing in our transatlantic relations so that it is stronger to counter the threats that are actually there." "Transatlantic relations have certainly taken a hit in the last week, but I think we have learned in this year that these relations are not the same as they were on the European side, we are not willing to throw away 80 years of good relations and we are willing to work for that."

Premier Sweden: damaged trust, we do not accept blackmail

"I think nothing is ever irreparable, but this has damaged trust between European countries and the US. I think so, without any doubt. I really hope that we can now return to serious discussions on how to increase security in Greenland, for example, but also on economic issues and everything else. But I think a necessary condition is that the European Union expresses a very, very clear position: we are united in support of Denmark and Greenland, and we do not accept to be blackmailed by any country, let alone an ally". This was stated by the Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, on his arrival at the informal European Council in Brussels.

Vance: Negotiations with NATO on the island "proceeding well"

Speaking in Toledo, Ohio, US Vice President JD Vance said that negotiations with NATO on Greenland "are progressing well". Greenland, he added, is important to US national security and the US missile defence system depends on security in the Arctic. Vance also emphasised that Greenland is critical to US national security because the US missile defence system depends on Arctic stability.

Trump: negotiations guarantee 'total' access to island defence infrastructure

Just today, Trump said that ongoing negotiations would grant the United States 'total' access to defence infrastructure in Greenland. "The negotiations are really ongoing right now, in detail, but in essence it's total access. There's no deadline, there's no time limit,' he said in an interview with broadcaster Fox Business.

Tusk: 'Leadership US is OK, dominance is not'

US 'leadership' is 'natural', it is 'OK', but there is a 'difference' between leadership and 'dominance'. This was emphasised by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, arriving in Brussels for the extraordinary European Council. "Coercion is not a good method," he says, "especially in relations with our transatlantic partners. The US is our most important partner, as far as our security is concerned, and we have always accepted US leadership'. 'This is absolutely natural. That is why it is so important for all of us, and also for our partners in Washington, to understand the difference between dominance and leadership. Leadership is OK,' he concludes.

Metsola: "Good de-escalation, forward with EU-US trade agreement"

"As we have seen after the escalation of tensions this week, we can say that for now clearer minds have prevailed and we can say with certainty that we have not relented on the issues of Denmark, Greenland, sovereignty and territorial integrity. We fully support these countries and their independence. They are not for sale'. This was stated by the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola upon her arrival at the extraordinary summit in Brussels. "We are happy to see that for now de-escalation is on the table. It also means that we can continue at this stage our internal discussions on the EU-US trade agreement, which had been on hold pending the imminent tariff threat. So I will pursue this issue together with my colleagues to move forward," he added.

Merz: "EU unity and determination have brought results"

"It has become apparent that unity and determination on the European side can indeed produce results. I am very grateful that President Trump has now taken a step back from his initial plans to take control of Greenland. And I am also grateful that he has given up imposing new tariffs on 1 February. All this is the result of our joint efforts between Europe and the United States of America to find a way forward together in the difficult times we are undoubtedly experiencing." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said this when he arrived at the EU summit in Brussels.

Starmer interview - Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer today welcomed Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to Chequers, the official country residence of the head of government outside London, for a bilateral meeting that also focused on US pressure on Denmark over Greenland.

At the end of the talk, Frederiksen thanked Starmer for the support, describing the UK as one of Copenhagen's oldest and most important allies and emphasising the need to maintain strong European cohesion in a phase he described as particularly complex.

"Everyone recognises that it has been quite a difficult time for us, and knowing that we have good friends, strong allies, and that Europeans remain united, do not divide, and remain true to our common values, even in a rapidly changing world, is extremely important for all of us," said the Danish Prime Minister, adding: "We will manage with a little help from our friends."