NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says alliance members must strengthen their security presence in the Arctic following a framework understanding with US President Donald Trump after he stepped back from tariff threats and ruled out seizing Greenland by force.
Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, Rutte said responsibility now lies with NATO’s senior military leadership to determine the scale and details of the enhanced security requirements in the region.
“I have no doubt we can do this quite fast. Certainly I would hope for 2026, I hope even early in 2026,” he said.
Trump’s earlier ambition to wrest sovereignty over Greenland from fellow NATO member Denmark had raised fears of a major rupture within the alliance that has underpinned Western security since the end of World War Two, while also threatening to reignite a trade war with Europe.
After weeks of pressure and rhetoric, the US president on Wednesday backed away from the threat of imposing tariffs on countries opposing his plans and ruled out the use of force. The sudden shift calmed markets and sparked a rebound in European shares, but also prompted questions about the lasting impact on transatlantic trust.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said no negotiations had taken place with NATO regarding Greenland’s sovereignty, stressing that the semi autonomous territory remains part of Denmark.
“It is still a difficult and serious situation, but progress has also been made in the sense that we have now got things where they need to be. Namely that we can discuss how we promote common security in the Arctic region,” Frederiksen said.
After meeting Rutte, Trump said a deal could be reached that meets his demands for a missile defence system and access to critical minerals, while blocking what he describes as Russian and Chinese ambitions in the Arctic.
Rutte, however, said mineral exploitation was not discussed during his talks with Trump, adding that specific negotiations concerning Greenland would continue directly between the United States, Denmark and Greenland itself.
He also insisted that stepping up Arctic security would not weaken NATO’s support for Ukraine, as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is scheduled to meet Trump on Thursday. Asked whether NATO allies could trust the US president’s assurances, Rutte replied: “You can always take Donald Trump at his word”.
Despite this, diplomats told Reuters that European Union leaders are reassessing relations with Washington after the Greenland episode severely shook confidence in the transatlantic partnership. EU governments remain wary of further policy reversals, with one diplomat warning that trust has been deeply damaged.
“Trump crossed the Rubicon. He might do it again. There is no coming back to what it was. And leaders will discuss it,” the diplomat said, adding that the EU must reduce its dependence on the United States across key sectors.
In Greenland’s capital Nuuk, reactions among residents were mixed. Tour guide Ivi Luna Olsen said Trump’s earlier comments had caused fear, even as his latest remarks offered some relief.
“I’m very thrilled to hear that, first of all, because he has been saying a lot of stuff about taking Greenland with force, like he’ll do it the hard way, which is so scary to hear,” she said.
“But I’m also like keeping my hopes down and still, like, hoping for the best and preparing for the worst because sometimes he can be saying a lot of stuff.”
Addressing the issue publicly for the first time, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Greenland’s ownership was not Russia’s concern, while China’s foreign ministry dismissed claims of a Chinese threat as groundless.
Concerns over uncertainty in US policy also extended to business leaders. Dirk Jandura, president of Germany’s wholesale and export association BGA, warned that unpredictability remains a serious risk to global trade.
“What President Trump announces today may be obsolete tomorrow. Reliability is not a minor issue in international trade, but rather a key prerequisite for investment and growth,” Jandura said.
“The ongoing unpredictability is causing lasting damage to confidence in trade relations and remains a serious risk to the global economy.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, also speaking in Davos, welcomed Trump’s reversal and urged allies not to abandon the alliance.
“Despite all the frustration and anger of recent months, let us not be too quick to write off the transatlantic partnership,” he said.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
Follow us on:
