Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has made it clear that Denmark will not compromise on its sovereignty, even though President Donald Trump has announced a “framework” deal concerning Greenland.
In her statement, Frederiksen expressed Denmark’s willingness to engage in discussions with allies, provided these talks honor Denmark’s “territorial integrity.”
Frederiksen emphasized, “Security in the Arctic is a concern for the entire NATO alliance. It is both appropriate and necessary for it to be discussed between NATO’s Secretary General and the President of the United States. The Kingdom of Denmark has consistently advocated for NATO to enhance its involvement in the Arctic region,” she stated in a message originally penned in Danish.
“We have maintained a close dialogue with NATO, and I have been in regular contact with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, both before and after his meeting with President Trump in Davos. NATO is fully informed of the Kingdom of Denmark’s stance. While we are open to political negotiations on matters such as security, investments, and the economy, our sovereignty is non-negotiable,” she firmly declared.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen addresses the media in the Mirror Hall at the Prime Minister’s Office, located at Christiansborg in Copenhagen, Denmark, on January 13, 2026. (Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Frederiksen also highlighted that “only Denmark and Greenland can make decisions on matters affecting them. The Kingdom of Denmark aims to maintain a constructive dialogue with allies on enhancing Arctic security, including discussions about the US’s Golden Dome, as long as these are conducted with respect for our territorial integrity.”
Her comments come after Trump announced on Truth Social that, “Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region.”
“This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations,” Trump wrote in the post. “Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st. Additional discussions are being held concerning The Golden Dome as it pertains to Greenland.”
President Donald Trump gives a speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Jan. 21, 2026, in Davos, Switzerland. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
During a speech at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Switzerland on Thursday, Trump seemed to indicate that he would not use force to seize Greenland.
While discussing NATO, he said, “We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force, where we would be frankly unstoppable. But, I won’t do that.”
“I won’t use force. All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland,” Trump said.
In a post on X, Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, said, “We welcome that POTUS has ruled out to take Greenland by force and paused the trade war. Now, let’s sit down and find out how we can address the American security concerns in the Arctic while respecting the red lines of the KoD.”
