NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has refuted claims that discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump involved transferring sovereignty of Greenland from Denmark to the United States. The Secretary-General stated in a recent interview that his discussions with the President focused on protecting the Arctic region.
President Trump had previously alluded to a potential ‘framework agreement’ concerning Greenland and the broader Arctic region. He clarified that military force would not be used to acquire the island during remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Reports indicate that the discussions centered around renegotiating the 1951 agreement that established the U.S. military presence in Greenland. Sources suggest that the Secretary-General’s proposal does not encompass a full transfer of sovereignty and that the discussions acknowledged Denmark’s sovereign rights over the Arctic island.
White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt stated that details of the Greenland agreement would be released after all parties finalize the terms. She added that “President Trump is once again proving that he is a dealmaker.”
President Trump described the agreement as a mutually beneficial solution for the U.S. and all NATO member states, also announcing the suspension of tariffs that were scheduled to take effect on February 1st. Further discussions are reportedly underway regarding a ‘Golden Dome’ agreement related to Greenland.
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart emphasized the organization’s collective commitment to Arctic security, adding that negotiations between Denmark, Greenland, and the United States would proceed to prevent Russia and China from gaining a foothold in the Arctic Circle.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that the Greenland issue between the U.S. does not concern Moscow.
