January 22, 2026, 1:31 p.mJanuary 22, 2026, 1:31 p.m
In the dispute over the US government’s unlawful ownership of Greenland, Denmark, to which the Arctic island belongs, does not want to negotiate questions of state sovereignty.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen made this clear in a statement. US President Donald Trump had previously spoken of an agreement on a possible agreement on the Greenland conflict after a meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte.
Germany’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.Image: keystone
“NATO is fully aware of the position of the Kingdom of Denmark,” said Frederiksen, according to the statement. “We can negotiate everything political: security, investments, economics. But we cannot negotiate our sovereignty. I have been informed that this was not the case either.”
Surprising defuse in the Greenland conflict
After a conversation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump surprisingly withdrew his threat of punitive tariffs against Germany and other European countries on February 1st in the evening. Trump justified this by saying that a framework for a future agreement on Greenland and the entire Arctic region had emerged during the meeting with Rutte.
According to information from informed circles, the deployment agreement for Greenland is to be reworked and will take into account the US missile defense system “Golden Dome”, which Trump wants to build on the world’s largest island. In addition, according to the information, the USA should have a say in investment projects from other countries in Greenland. In addition, greater involvement of the European NATO states in the Arctic is planned.
Frederiksen explained that security in the Arctic is a concern for the entire NATO. That’s why it’s good and natural that this topic is also discussed between the NATO chief and the US President. “Denmark has long advocated for NATO to strengthen its commitment in the Arctic.” She spoke to Rutte herself before and after his meeting with Trump in Davos. Her Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told the TV station DR that Rutte had not negotiated on behalf of Denmark.
Frederiksen: We can also talk about “Golden Dome”.
The New York Times reported, citing government officials, that part of the discussion in NATO about a compromise with Trump was that Denmark could transfer sovereignty over small areas of Greenland to the United States, where they could then build military bases.
“Of course, only Denmark and Greenland themselves can make decisions on issues that concern Denmark and Greenland,” emphasized Frederiksen. Denmark would like to continue to have a “constructive dialogue with the allies about how we can strengthen security in the Arctic – including via the US Golden Dome – as long as this is done with respect for our territorial integrity.” (dab/sda/dpa)