COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Denmark’s prime minister on Thursday reaffirmed that the country’s sovereignty is “not negotiable” following U.S. President Donald Trump’s abrupt reversal of threatened tariffs against several European nations linked to his push for greater U.S. involvement in Greenland’s security.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Denmark is open to dialogue on Arctic security, investment, and economic cooperation, but stressed that decisions regarding Greenland — a semiautonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark — rest solely with Denmark and Greenland.
“NATO is fully aware of the kingdom of Denmark’s position that anything political can be negotiated on, including security, investment, and economic issues, but we cannot negotiate on our sovereignty,” Frederiksen said in a statement.
Trump on Wednesday announced he had agreed to a “framework of a future deal” on Arctic security with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and simultaneously scrapped proposed tariffs on eight European countries that had been part of his pressure campaign over U.S. interests in Greenland. The move marked a sharp shift from earlier remarks in which Trump said he wanted to obtain the island “including right, title and ownership,” though he also said he would not use force.
Trump said further discussions were under way related to the U.S. “Golden Dome” missile defense program, a proposed multilayered system estimated to cost $175 billion that would, for the first time, place U.S. weapons in space. He did not provide details on how the program would relate to Greenland or broader Arctic security arrangements.
NATO clarified that no compromise on Danish sovereignty had been proposed. Alliance spokesperson Allison Hart said Rutte “did not propose any compromise to sovereignty during his meeting with President Trump,” adding that future talks among Denmark, Greenland, and the United States would focus on preventing Russia and China from gaining an economic or military foothold in Greenland.
Rutte, speaking in an interview with Fox News, said the question of Greenland’s status did not arise in his discussions with Trump. “He’s very much focused on what do we need to do to make sure that huge Arctic region… where the Chinese and Russians are more and more active, how we can protect it,” Rutte said.
Frederiksen confirmed she had been in regular contact with Rutte before and after his meeting with Trump and said Denmark would continue engaging allies on strengthening Arctic security, including discussions related to the Golden Dome program, “provided that this is done with respect for our territorial integrity.”
Christian Friis Bach, chair of the Danish parliament’s foreign policy committee, said Denmark supports establishing a “consolidated and permanent” NATO surveillance and security mission in the Arctic, similar to the Baltic Sentry operation launched in the Baltic Sea last year.
Public reaction in Copenhagen reflected skepticism over Trump’s policy shift. “It’s for Greenlanders to decide what happens with their land — not Donald Trump,” said Louise Pedersen, 22, a startup employee. Poul Bjoern Strand, 70, said he did not believe Danes would support any move to cede territory.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, whose country had been among those facing potential U.S. tariffs, underscored the importance of European NATO allies increasing their role in Arctic security.
“We will protect Denmark, Greenland, the north from the threat posed by Russia,” Merz said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “We will uphold the principles on which the trans-Atlantic partnership is founded, namely sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Merz said he welcomed Trump’s latest remarks and supported continued talks between Denmark, Greenland, and the United States aimed at strengthening cooperation based on those principles.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
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