Trump and NATO Agree on Arctic Security Framework, Denmark Maintains Sovereignty

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the United States had secured total and permanent access to Greenland under a framework agreement with NATO, even as the alliance called on its members to step up Arctic security to counter potential threats from Russia and China.

The announcement comes after Trump backed away from earlier tariff threats and ruled out taking Greenland by force, easing what had threatened to become one of the most serious ruptures in transatlantic relations in decades.

However, details of the agreement remain unclear, and Denmark has reaffirmed its sovereignty over the island, emphasizing that Greenland is not for negotiation.

Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, welcomed Trump’s comments but said he remained uncertain about the specifics of the deal.

“I don’t know what there is in the agreement, or the deal, about my country,” Nielsen told reporters in Nuuk.
“We are ready to discuss a lot of things and negotiate a better partnership, but sovereignty is a red line. We must respect our territorial integrity, international law, and sovereignty.”

Trump, speaking to Fox Business Network from the World Economic Forum in Davos, described the agreement as providing “total access” with no time limit or expiration.

“It’s really being negotiated now, the details of it. But essentially, it’s total access. There’s no end, there’s no time limit,” Trump said.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told Reuters that it is now up to NATO’s senior commanders to determine the scope and details of enhanced Arctic security requirements.

“I have no doubt we can do this quite fast. Certainly I would hope for 2026, I hope even early in 2026,” Rutte said.

Trump’s sudden reversal calmed European markets but raised questions about the long-term impact on transatlantic trust and business confidence, leaving diplomats and European leaders cautious about future US policy moves.