US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he had guaranteed full and permanent US access to Greenland in a deal with NATO, whose chief said the allies would have to increase their commitment to Arctic security to avoid threats from Russia and China.
News of a basis for agreement came as Trump backed away from tariff threats and ruled out the possibility of taking Greenland by force, bringing some relief in what was shaping up to be the biggest rupture in transatlantic ties in decades.
But the details of any agreement were unclear and Denmark insisted its sovereignty over the island was not up for discussion. Denmark’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s latest comments.
Trump’s about-face triggered a rally in European markets, but also raised questions about the extent of the damage already done to transatlantic ties and business confidence.
‘In fact, the details are being negotiated now. But essentially it’s full access. It’s — there’s no end, there’s no time limit,” Trump told Fox Business Network in an interview in Davos, where he is attending the World Economic Forum.
Rutte told Reuters in an interview in Davos that it was now up to senior NATO commanders to work out the details of the extra security requirements.
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‘I have no doubt we can do this quickly. Certainly, I would expect it to be 2026, hopefully even early 2026,’ he said.
Denmark says situation remains difficult
Trump’s ambition to wrest sovereignty over Greenland from NATO member Denmark threatened to destroy the alliance that has underpinned Western security since the end of World War II and reignite a trade war with Europe.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that no negotiations have been held with NATO regarding the sovereignty of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.
‘It’s still a difficult and serious situation, but there has also been progress in the sense that we now have things where they need to be. In other words, we can discuss how to promote common security in the Arctic region’, declared Frederiksen.
After meeting with Rutte, Trump had previously said there could be a deal that would satisfy his desire for a missile defense system and access to essential minerals, blocking what he claims are Russia and China’s ambitions in the Arctic.
Rutte said mineral exploration was not discussed during his meeting with Trump, adding that specific negotiations on the Arctic island would continue between the United States, Denmark and Greenland itself.
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A 1951 agreement between the United States and Denmark established the U.S. right to build military bases in Greenland and move freely within Greenland’s territory. This is still the case as long as Denmark and Greenland are informed of their actions.
