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The government of Greenland on Monday firmly rejected any possibility of the United States taking over the Arctic island, reiterating its position that such a move would not be accepted "under any circumstance."
The response follows repeated statements from U.S. President Donald Trump, who insists that only full American control over Greenland, not just a military presence, can effectively counter Russian and Chinese influence.
While reaffirming its commitment to strengthening defense under NATO, Greenland emphasized that the island is not for sale, ahead of scheduled talks between Denmark and the United States this week.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Zagreb, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that Arctic security has become a growing priority for the alliance due to the potential for increased Russian and Chinese activity in the region. As melting ice opens new sea lanes, Rutte noted, "there is a risk that the Russians and the Chinese will be more active."
Rutte pointed out that seven of the eight Arctic countries are NATO members, namely the United States, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, and Sweden, while Russia is the only Arctic nation outside the alliance. China, though not geographically part of the Arctic, has emerged as an influential actor through sustained interest and activity in the region.
"NATO concluded internal discussions last year on how to strengthen cooperation among its Arctic members," Rutte said, adding that the alliance is now focused on "practical follow-up" measures to ensure regional security.
Rutte also acknowledged that a group of European countries, led by the United Kingdom and Germany, is planning to expand their military footprint in Greenland. "Today we are working together to see how we can build that next step as an alliance," he said.
The developments come as NATO increases its Arctic engagement, a process that began in earnest in 2025 at the request of its High North allies. Rutte described the region as "a vital part of NATO territory."
Meanwhile, European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius issued a stark warning, saying that any attempt by the United States to take over Greenland militarily would "be the end of NATO." Speaking to Reuters at a security conference in Sweden, Kubilius said such a move would have "a very deep negative impact among the people and on our transatlantic relations."
Despite the rising tensions, Kubilius said he does not believe a U.S. invasion is imminent.
Kubilius emphasized that under the European Union Treaty, EU member states are obligated to come to the aid of Denmark in the event of military aggression. “It will depend very much on Denmark, how they will react, what will be their position," he said, underscoring the EU’s preparedness to support Greenland if requested.
He also questioned the legitimacy of any forced occupation, asking, "Who will recognise that occupation, and what impacts will it have on the relationship between the United States and Europe, including, for example, trade?"
Kubilius said EU assistance could include troops and advanced military infrastructure, such as warships and anti-drone capabilities, if Denmark were to request it.
Looking ahead, he stressed the need for Europe to strengthen its military capacity independently of the United States. "It will be a very big challenge to be ready to defend Europe… without the United States," he said, adding that NATO would not remain in its current form should Washington withdraw.
He proposed the creation of a European pillar within the alliance but acknowledged that fundamental changes would be necessary. "NATO, such as it is now, definitely will not exist anymore," he said.
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