Danish PM: NATO has no mandate to negotiate Greenland sovereignty

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded to statements by US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte regarding a framework agreement on Greenland, stressing that NATO has no mandate to negotiate issues of Danish sovereignty and that decisions on such matters can only be made by Denmark and Greenland.

Frederiksen said the Kingdom of Denmark remains ready for constructive dialogue with allies on Arctic security, including proposals related to the deployment of the US “Golden Dome” system, but emphasised that any discussions must respect Denmark’s territorial integrity, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

She added that she remains in regular contact with Mark Rutte both before and after his meeting with President Trump in Davos, stressing that NATO fully understands Denmark’s position and that the alliance cannot negotiate its sovereignty.

“I have been informed that this has not been the case either. And of course, it is only Denmark and Greenland themselves who can make decisions on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland,” Frederiksen noted.

The remarks come amid growing debate over Washington’s claims of a NATO-backed framework concerning Greenland, prompting closer scrutiny of what has actually been discussed between the United States and the alliance.

On January 21, US President Donald Trump said in Davos that a “framework of a future deal” had been agreed with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Greenland and broader Arctic security, linking the announcement to his decision to drop threatened tariffs on European allies.

Officials familiar with the discussions indicated that the so-called framework focuses on enhanced Arctic defence cooperation — including potential US military deployments and missile defence coordination — rather than any transfer of sovereignty.

By Jeyhun Aghazada