Several European leaders on Tuesday pushed back US President
Donald Trump's threat of seeking an American takeover of Greenland, issuing a joint statement saying that the mineral-rich Arctic island "belongs to its people."
Leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom joined Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen in asserting that Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
'Arctic region is a priority'
In their joint statement, the leaders said that, "Arctic security remains a key priority for Europe and it is critical for international and transatlantic security."
"Nato has made clear that the Arctic region is a priority and European allies are stepping up. We and many other allies have increased our presence, activities and investments, to keep the Arctic safe and to deter adversaries," they added.
Further stressing that Denmark, including Greenland, is part of Nato , the leaders said, "Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively, in conjunction with Nato allies including the United States, by upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders."
"These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them," the statement said, adding that "Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland."
They also noted that the US was "an essential partner in this endeavour".
The statement was signed by UK prime minister Keir Starmer, Danish PM Mette Frederiksen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish prime minister Donald Tusk and Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez.
Trump's 20-day timeline deepens fears
The remarks come amid renewed concern following recent US military action in Venezuela and Trump’s repeated comments about Greenland, which is rich in minerals, including rare earths, and occupies a strategic Arctic location as melting ice opens new shipping routes.
Greenland also lies along the shortest missile route between Russia and the United States, and already hosts a US military installation.
Washington operates the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland under a 1951 defence agreement, supporting missile warning, missile defence and space surveillance operations for the US and Nato .
Trump on Sunday sought to downplay immediate concerns, saying, "we’ll worry about Greenland in about two months." He has repeatedly called for US jurisdiction over Greenland and has not ruled out the use of force.
However, his comment that "let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days" has heightened fears of possible US action.
Trump also mocked Denmark’s efforts to strengthen Greenland’s security, saying the Danes had added "one more dog sled" to their Arctic defences. "It’s so strategic right now," he said, adding, "We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it."
Expert counters Trump
Danish security expert Ulrik Pram Gad countered such claims, writing that while Russian and Chinese ships do operate in the Arctic, "these vessels are too far away to see from Greenland with or without binoculars."
Denmark warns of Nato fallout
Earlier on Monday, Danish PM warned that a US takeover of Greenland would spell the end of the Nato alliance. "We will not accept a situation where we and Greenland are threatened in this way," Frederiksen said, adding that Trump "should be taken seriously" when he speaks about Greenland.
Later, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller doubled down on Washington’s position. "The president has been clear for months now that the United States should be the nation that has Greenland as part of our overall security apparatus," Miller said in an interview with CNN.
Despite the sharp rhetoric, European leaders have made clear that any discussion on Greenland’s future must respect sovereignty, Nato commitments and international law.