US president Donald Trump has claimed that the United States has secured unlimited and permanent access to Greenland through a new framework involving NATO, a move that has stirred confusion and concern across Europe. While Trump says the deal strengthens Arctic security against China and Russia, Denmark insists that Greenland’s sovereignty is not negotiable.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said the agreement would give the US “total access” with no expiry date. He also backed away from earlier tariff threats and ruled out using force, easing fears of an immediate crisis within NATO. However, no clear details of the deal have been made public.
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, welcomed a calmer tone from Washington but said he had not been briefed on any agreement affecting his country. “I don’t know what is in this deal about Greenland,” he said, adding that while Greenland is open to cooperation, sovereignty remains a “red line”.
Denmark echoed this position. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said there have been no talks with NATO about transferring control of Greenland. She described the situation as serious but said discussions on improving shared Arctic security were now possible. Denmark has instead called for a stronger NATO presence in the region.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said military planners would assess any additional security needs, possibly by early 2026. Still, he stressed that talks involving Greenland must include Denmark and Greenland’s own government.
European leaders have become unsettled by the episode, with EU officials warning that it has shaken trust in the transatlantic relationship. Residents in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, expressed confusion and unease.
“One moment it feels like we’re heading for conflict; the next everything changes,” said local resident Jesper Muller. “It’s hard to build a future on that kind of uncertainty.”
