NATO chief again refuses comment on Greenland amid US-Denmark dispute

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte once again declined on January 21 to comment on the dispute between the US and Denmark over Greenland.

During a Davos panel on "Can Europe defend itself?", Rutte said, "You can be assured I’m working on this issue behind the scenes," Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"Statements from me will not add anything," the secretary-general stressed. He emphasised that the only way through the crisis is "thoughtful diplomacy."

Rutte noted that the US remains committed to the military alliance because "NATO is crucial not only for the defence of Europe, but also for the defence of the US," adding that the US "needs a safe Arctic, a safe Atlantic and a safe Europe."

On the Arctic, Rutte acknowledged that President Donald Trump was right, saying that the Arctic must be protected against Russian and Chinese influence.

The current dispute stems from US President Donald Trump’s renewed push for the United States to acquire Greenland, a large autonomous Arctic territory of Denmark, citing its strategic military value amid rising great‑power competition with Russia and China.

Greenland’s location near the GIUK Gap — a key North Atlantic maritime corridor — and its existing US military facilities make it crucial for Arctic and transatlantic defence, which drives Washington’s interest but also heightens geopolitical sensitivity.

Copenhagen and Nuuk have strengthened their own Arctic defence posture and diplomatic coordination, viewing any coercive US bid as undermining NATO cohesion and international law, with European allies publicly backing Denmark’s stance.

Beyond military factors, Greenland’s potential natural resources and emerging shipping routes due to climate change contribute to the broader strategic competition in the Arctic that underlies the diplomatic friction between Washington and Copenhagen.

By Jeyhun Aghazada