THE GUARDIAN: Self-governing island stresses it is member of Nato, which is looking at improving Arctic defences, through Denmark
Greenland’s government has said it “cannot under any circumstances accept” Donald Trump’s desire to take control of Greenland, as Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, said the organisation was working on ways to bolster Arctic security.
At the start of a critical week for the vast Arctic island, a largely self-governing part of Denmark, the US president restated his interest in the strategically located, mineral-rich territory, saying the US would take it “one way or the other”.
The US president has rocked the EU and Nato by refusing to rule out military force to seize Greenland, which is covered by many of their protections since Denmark belongs to both.
Greenland’s foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, and her Danish counterpart, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, are due to meet the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, in Washington on Wednesday.
Denmark, which has pointed out that a 1951 treaty already allows the US to significantly expand its military presence in the territory, has repeatedly said Greenland is not up for grabs and it hopes a diplomatic solution can be found.
Greenland’s government said on Monday that the island was “part of the kingdom of Denmark” and “as part of the Danish commonwealth, a member of Nato”. It would increase its efforts to ensure its defence took place “in the Nato framework”, it said. » | Jon Henley, and Amanda Bryant | Monday, January 12, 2026
Message to Trump: Keep your filthy mitts off Greenland! Greenlanders don't want to be Americans. Get it? — © Mark Alexander
