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Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said he cannot clearly state that the Czech Republic stands behind Greenland, stressing instead that the dispute should be resolved within NATO and warning that confrontations inside the alliance would be counterproductive.
Speaking to reporters, Babis said the United States remains the leading power within NATO and emphasized that disagreements among allies should be avoided.
He said the Czech Republic favors dialogue and agreement within the alliance rather than political clashes.
“We definitely prefer that an agreement be reached within the alliance. It would be very unfortunate if there were simply some clashes,” Babis said.
Babis’s remarks come amid escalating tensions following repeated statements by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Greenland.
The issue will be discussed at a European Council meeting on Thursday, where Babis will represent the Czech Republic.
Trump recently announced plans to impose additional tariffs starting Feb. 1 on eight European countries—Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland—saying the measures would remain in place until the United States reaches an agreement to purchase Greenland from Denmark.
In a joint statement, the affected European countries warned that the tariff threats risk damaging transatlantic relations and could trigger a dangerous escalation.
Addressing the security dimension of the debate, Babis said he purchased a globe to better understand Greenland’s strategic location.
He referred to the Russian supersonic ballistic missile Oreshnik, noting that its projected flight path from Russia to the White House would pass over Greenland.
“That missile would reach the White House in 26 minutes, and at the 11th minute it would be precisely over Greenland,” Babis said, adding that Trump’s arguments about security concerns involving Russia and China were therefore relevant.
However, he stressed that the situation still requires negotiation rather than public declarations, saying appeals and statements alone would not resolve the issue.
Meanwhile, Martin Kupka, the newly elected leader of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), called on the Czech government to take a clearer position in support of Greenland and Denmark.
Kupka said the Czech Republic should stand firmly with its European partners and allies and play a more visible role in the dispute.
Babis described Trump as a businessman and suggested the tariff threats were part of a negotiating strategy.
He recalled previous situations in which Trump announced steep tariffs before later reaching agreements with Canada and Mexico.
“He likely uses the same tactic; he puts a proposal on the table as a starting point for negotiations,” Babis said, adding that the Czech government supports efforts to negotiate and resolve the matter through dialogue.
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