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Denmark and six NATO allies Tuesday issued a joint statement reaffirming respect for “sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders” following renewed calls by U.S. President Donald Trump for an American takeover of Greenland.
“Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland,” the leaders of Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom said.
The statement was signed by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
The leaders said sovereignty and territorial integrity are “universal principles” and vowed to continue defending them.
The statement said Arctic security remains a “key priority for Europe,” noting that European allies have increased their presence, activities and investments in the region to maintain stability.
“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,” the leaders said.
They also underscored that the United States remains an “essential partner” through NATO and the 1951 defense agreement between Washington and the Kingdom of Denmark.
Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in taking control of Greenland, a self-governing territory within Denmark, citing U.S. security interests and the island’s strategic location and untapped rare earth resources. Greenland also sits on the shortest missile route between Russia and the United States, and Washington already operates a military base there.
Following the U.S. military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro, Trump on Sunday renewed his calls for an American takeover of Greenland.
He later quipped that “we’ll worry about Greenland in about two months.”
Frederiksen urged Trump to “stop the threats,” while several European countries and the European Union voiced support for Denmark and Greenland, rejecting any suggestion that the island’s future could be decided by outside powers.
Washington’s intervention in Venezuela has heightened European concerns about Trump’s broader foreign policy ambitions, particularly regarding territorial sovereignty and the use of force.
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