By GEIR MOULSON and JAMES BROOKS, Related Press
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark’s prime minister insisted that her nation can’t negotiate on its sovereignty on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump stated he agreed a “framework of a future deal” on Arctic safety with the pinnacle of NATO.
Trump on Wednesday abruptly scrapped the tariffs he had threatened to impose on eight European nations to press for U.S. management over Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark. It was a dramatic reversal hours after he insisted he wished to get the island “together with proper, title and possession” — although he additionally stated he wouldn’t use drive.
He stated “further discussions” on Greenland had been being held in regards to the Golden Dome missile protection program, a multilayered, $175 billion system that for the primary time will put U.S. weapons in area. Trump provided few particulars, saying they had been nonetheless being labored out.
NATO stated its secretary common, Mark Rutte, hadn’t proposed any compromise to Danish sovereignty.
Denmark insists on territorial integrity
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated safety within the Arctic is a matter for all of NATO, and it’s “good and pure” that it’s mentioned between the U.S. president and Rutte. She stated in a press release that she had spoken with Rutte “on an ongoing foundation,” together with earlier than and after he met Trump in Davos.
She wrote that NATO is totally conscious of the dominion of Denmark’s place that something political will be negotiated on, together with safety, funding and financial points — “however we can not negotiate on our sovereignty.”
“I’ve been knowledgeable that this has not been the case,” she stated, including that solely Denmark and Greenland could make choices on points regarding Denmark and Greenland.
Frederiksen stated that Denmark desires to proceed participating in constructive dialogue with allies on easy methods to strengthen safety within the Arctic, together with the U.S. Golden Dome program, “supplied that that is completed with respect for our territorial integrity.”
Requested in an interview with Fox Information whether or not Greenland would stay a part of the dominion of Denmark beneath the framework deal Trump introduced, Rutte replied that “that subject didn’t come up anymore in my conversations tonight with the president.”
“He’s very a lot centered on what do we have to do to make it possible for big Arctic area, the place change is happening in the intervening time, the place the Chinese language and Russians are an increasing number of energetic, how we will defend it,” he stated. “That was actually the main target of our discussions.”
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart stated Thursday that Rutte “didn’t suggest any compromise to sovereignty throughout his assembly with President Trump.” She stated that negotiations between Denmark, Greenland and the U.S. “will go ahead geared toward making certain that Russia and China by no means achieve a foothold – economically or militarily – in Greenland.”
Welcome and skepticism for Trump’s swap
On the streets of Copenhagen, some had been skeptical about Trump’s swap.
“I believe the person has stated many issues and completed loads of various things to what he says,” stated Louise Pedersen, 22, who works with a startup firm. “I’ve a tough time believing it. I believe it’s terrifying that we stand right here in 2026.”
She stated it’s for Greenlanders to resolve what occurs with their land — “not Donald Trump.”
“I don’t actually belief something Mr. Trump is saying,” stated Poul Bjoern Strand, 70, an promoting employee.
On the potential of ceding territory, he stated: “That’s not what the Greenlanders need, that’s not what the Danish individuals need, and … I can not imagine that Danes are going to observe that.”
Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany, one of many European nations that had confronted Trump’s risk of tariffs over Greenland, underlined the necessity for European NATO allies to do extra to safe the Arctic area and burdened that it’s “a typical trans-Atlantic curiosity.”
“We are going to defend Denmark, Greenland, the north from the risk posed by Russia,” he stated on the World Financial Discussion board assembly in Davos, Switzerland. “We are going to uphold the rules on which the trans-Atlantic partnership is based, specifically sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
“We assist talks between Denmark, Greenland (and) the USA on the premise of those rules,” aiming for nearer cooperation, Merz stated. “It’s excellent news that we’re making steps into that proper path. I welcome President Trump’s remarks from final night time — that is the proper method to go.”
Moulson reported from Berlin. Lorne Cook dinner in Brussels contributed to this report.
