Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Sunday said her country faces a “decisive moment” over the future of Greenland following renewed threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to seize the Arctic territory by force.
Speaking ahead of meetings in Washington, D.C., on global competition for critical raw materials, Frederiksen described the situation as a “conflict over Greenland” and emphasized that the stakes go beyond the immediate question of the island’s sovereignty.
“This is a decisive moment,” she told fellow Danish political leaders during a debate. In a post on Facebook, Frederiksen added that Denmark is “ready to defend our values—wherever it is necessary—including in the Arctic,” and underscored the importance of international law and the right of peoples to self-determination.
Germany and Sweden have publicly backed Denmark against Trump’s claims over the self-governing Danish territory. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson condemned Washington’s “threatening rhetoric” after Trump stated that the U.S. would act on Greenland “whether they like it or not.”
“Sweden, the Nordic countries, the Baltic states, and several major European countries stand together with our Danish friends,” Kristersson said during a defence conference in Salen attended by the US general in charge of NATO. He warned that a U.S. takeover of mineral-rich Greenland would violate international law and could encourage similar actions by other countries.
Germany also reiterated support for Denmark and Greenland ahead of Washington meetings. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadehpul, ahead of talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday, met officials in Iceland to discuss the “strategic challenges of the Far North.” He said, “Security in the Arctic is becoming more and more important and is part of our common NATO interest.”
The United Kingdom is reportedly considering a NATO mission in Greenland. The Telegraph reported that military chiefs from the UK and other European countries have begun early discussions with Germany, France, and others on deploying UK troops, warships, and aircraft to protect Greenland from potential Russian and Chinese moves.
UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told Sky News that discussions with NATO allies on deterring Russian aggression in the Arctic are “business as usual.” She said, “It’s becoming an increasingly contested geopolitical region, and you would expect us to be talking to all our NATO allies about how to deter Russian activity in the Arctic Circle.”
Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken told Reuters that NATO should consider launching an Arctic operation to address security concerns. He suggested modelling it after NATO’s Baltic Sentry and Eastern Sentry operations, which use multinational forces, drones, sensors, and other technology to monitor land and sea, calling the approach an “Arctic Sentry.”
Trump has cited rising Russian and Chinese military activity in the Arctic as justification for U.S. interest in controlling Greenland. A Danish colony until 1953, Greenland gained home rule in 1979 and is exploring further autonomy. Polls indicate that the Greenlandic population strongly opposes any U.S. takeover.
With inputs from ALJAZEERA