In a written statement on Thursday, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says that she has been in regular contact with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and that the sovereignty of the Kingdom, and thus Greenland, has not been negotiated at the economic summit in Davos:
- NATO is fully aware of the position of the Kingdom of Denmark. We can negotiate about everything political; security, investments, economy. But we cannot negotiate about our sovereignty, states the Prime Minister and states:
- I have been informed that this has not been the case either. And of course, only Denmark and Greenland themselves can make decisions on issues concerning Denmark and Greenland.
Trump canceled tariffs
The announcement from the Minister of State comes after US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday evening that a framework has been developed for a future agreement on Greenland, and at the same time tariffs on Greenland will be lifted.
The announcement came on the heels of a meeting between Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Since then, there has been considerable speculation about what the president means and what consequences the agreement may have in relation to whether concessions have been made to Trump, who has specifically stated that the United States should own Greenland.
Trump has been very vague about specific content in Davos, but he has stated, among other things, that the agreement "gives us everything we want. Including national and international security."
Good and natural with discussions about safety
Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed that Greenland is important to US national security, and in his statement on Thursday, the Prime Minister says that it is good that this topic has been discussed between Trump and Rutte:
- Security in the Arctic is a matter for the entire NATO alliance. Therefore, it is good and natural that it is also discussed between NATO's Secretary General and the President of the United States. The Kingdom of Denmark has long worked for NATO to increase its engagement in the Arctic, says Mette Frederiksen.
Ready to discuss Golden Dome
The Prime Minister also says that the Kingdom of Denmark wants to enter into a constructive dialogue with allies on strengthening security in the Arctic, including the US missile shield project Golden Dome, provided that it is done with respect for the Kingdom's territorial integrity.
She emphasizes that the Danish government has coordinated efforts with the Greenland Government throughout the process.
- We have been in close dialogue with NATO and I have myself spoken with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on an ongoing basis, including both before and after his meeting with President Trump in Davos, says the Prime Minister.
In terms of what the Government of Greenland thinks about the matter, we will probably know more at 2 p.m., when the Chairman of the Government of Greenland, Jens-Frederik Nielsen (D), has called a press conference.
