[ad_1]
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen attends a gathering within the International Coverage Committee at Christiansborg in Copenhagen, Denmark, Jan. 20. AFP-Yonhap
Denmark’s prime minister insisted that her nation can’t negotiate on its sovereignty on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned he agreed a “framework of a future deal” on Arctic safety with the top 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 needed to get the island “together with proper, title and possession” — although he additionally mentioned he wouldn’t use drive.
He mentioned “extra discussions” on Greenland have been being held regarding the Golden Dome missile protection program , a multilayered, $175 billion system that for the primary time will put U.S. weapons in house. Trump supplied few particulars, saying they have been nonetheless being labored out.
NATO mentioned its secretary basic, Mark Rutte, hadn’t proposed any compromise to Danish sovereignty.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen mentioned 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 mentioned 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 absolutely conscious of the dominion of Denmark’s place that something political might 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 mentioned, including that solely Denmark and Greenland could make choices on points regarding Denmark and Greenland.
Frederiksen mentioned that Denmark desires to proceed partaking in constructive dialogue with allies on the best way to strengthen safety within the Arctic, together with the U.S. Golden Dome program, “offered that that is performed 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 difficulty didn’t come up anymore in my conversations tonight with the president.”
“He’s very a lot targeted on what do we have to do to make it possible for enormous Arctic area, the place change is happening for the time being, the place the Chinese language and Russians are increasingly energetic, how we are able to shield it,” he mentioned. “That was actually the main focus of our discussions.”
NATO spokesperson Allison Hart mentioned Thursday that Rutte “didn’t suggest any compromise to sovereignty throughout his assembly with President Trump.” She mentioned that negotiations between Denmark, Greenland and the U.S. “will go ahead aimed toward guaranteeing that Russia and China by no means achieve a foothold – economically or militarily – in Greenland.”
Individuals march throughout a pro-Greenlanders demonstration in Copenhagen, Denmark, Jan. 17. AP-Yonhap
On the streets of Copenhagen, some have been skeptical about Trump’s swap.
“I believe the person has mentioned many issues and performed numerous various things to what he says,” mentioned 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 mentioned it’s for Greenlanders to determine what occurs with their land — “not Donald Trump.”
“I don’t actually belief something Mr. Trump is saying,” mentioned Poul Bjoern Strand, 70, an promoting employee.
On the opportunity of ceding territory, he mentioned: “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 standard trans-Atlantic curiosity.”
“We’ll shield Denmark, Greenland, the north from the risk posed by Russia,” he mentioned on the World Financial Discussion board assembly in Davos, Switzerland. “We’ll uphold the rules on which the trans-Atlantic partnership is based, specifically sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
“We help talks between Denmark, Greenland (and) the USA on the premise of those rules,” aiming for nearer cooperation, Merz mentioned. “It’s excellent news that we’re making steps into that proper route. I welcome President Trump’s remarks from final night time — that is the proper option to go.”
[ad_2]
