Greenland declares defence must be organised through NATO Not Denmark or US

Greenland has reaffirmed that its defence must be anchored within NATO rather than directed by Denmark or by the United States under President Donald Trump, Richard Milne writes for the Financial Times.

Trump’s renewed push to take control of Greenland from Denmark has triggered what Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen describes as an existential crisis for NATO, warning that the alliance cannot withstand a military action by one member state against another.

Greenlandic leaders, who have long acknowledged that the island of 57,000 people would require a security guarantor if it eventually achieves the independence many seek, have viewed Denmark and the United States as the primary options.

However, ahead of high-level discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Greenland’s coalition government announced that it would “intensify its efforts to ensure that the defence of Greenland is carried out within the NATO framework.”

The government added that it expects Greenland to remain a NATO member “now and in the future,” and said it would work with Denmark “to ensure that dialogue on Greenland’s defence and its development takes place within NATO co-operation.”

Several NATO states — including the United Kingdom, Germany and France — have proposed deploying troops to Greenland or strengthening their presence in the Arctic.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte addressed the issue publicly for the first time on January 12, stating only that “all allies agree on the importance of the Arctic and Arctic security,” without confronting the emerging rift between the two alliance members.

By Tamilla Hasanova