Brussels: Denmark and Greenland are ruling out a sweeping concession to US President Donald Trump in a new framework he says can ensure Arctic security, declaring they will not sacrifice their sovereignty in his potential deal.
The stance presents an early obstacle to a draft plan that could give American forces permanent rights to territory on Greenland after Trump dropped his earlier demand for American ownership of the island.
The differences emerged as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rebuked European leaders for being indecisive and making him go through a Groundhog Day routine to repeat his calls for help to fight Russia.
Leaders from Denmark and Greenland are calling sovereignty a “red line” in the future negotiations over the use of the territory, as Trump seeks more sway in Greenland because of its strategic location for missile defence systems to shield the US from attack.
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the island could do “a lot more” with the US to create a strong agreement as long as there was respect in the negotiation about the framework.
“We are ready to discuss a lot of things, and we are ready to negotiate a better partnership, and so on, but sovereignty is a red line,” he said.
“Our integrity and our borders and international law is definitely a red line that we don’t want anyone to cross, and I don’t think that is strange at all.”
Trump claimed the framework would ensure “total access” for the US and would have no time limit, setting up a tough negotiation with Denmark and Greenland.
The draft framework is said to include measures such as a revision of a 1951 treaty between the US and Denmark that covers access to existing bases, which has been updated in recent decades to reflect the autonomy of Greenland.
The draft is also said to guarantee long-term rights for American forces to control the land they need for future military bases, in the same way that Britain has broad rights over its bases on Cyprus.
Another measure in the proposal aims to prevent rival powers such as China and Russia gaining any access to Greenland.
Trump shifted his position at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss town of Davos on Wednesday, ruling out using force to seize Greenland and dropping his threat to impose tariffs on eight nations over the issue.
One day after the dramatic shift, Trump claimed sweeping rights under the new framework he revealed with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who sought a compromise in private talks with the president.
“We’re getting everything we want, at no cost,” Trump told Fox News in an interview with host Maria Bartiromo on Thursday in Davos.
He said Greenland would host part of the “Golden Dome” missile defence system he wants the US to build to shoot down attacks from enemies.
Asked if this meant an acquisition of Greenland, Trump said: “It’s really being negotiated now, the details of it, but essentially it’s total access, there’s no end, there’s no time limit.”
Trump wants the Golden Dome built because a theoretical attack by Russia or China would most likely lead to missiles flying over Greenland because this would be the shortest route to strike the continental US.
The US has a base at Pituffik, previously known as Thule, in the far north of Greenland, to monitor attacks, having closed down other bases since the height of the Cold War. It could require more bases to house missiles that could be launched against incoming attacks.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she was willing to negotiate a new agreement with the US to ensure security, but she named territorial integrity as a key concern.
“Security in the Arctic is a matter for the entire NATO alliance. Therefore, it is good and natural that it is also discussed between NATO’s secretary general and the president of the United States,” Frederiksen said in a statement.
“The Kingdom of Denmark wishes to continue to engage in a constructive dialogue with allies on how we can strengthen security in the Arctic, including the United States’ Golden Dome, provided that this is done with respect for our territorial integrity.”
While Rutte discussed the new framework with Trump at Davos, the negotiations have yet to include leaders from Denmark and Greenland.
Frederiksen “only Denmark and Greenland itself” could reach the agreements required. She met British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the UK on Thursday and thanked him for his support.
While leaders were occupied with the Greenland dispute, Zelensky rebuked European allies for what he portrayed as a slow, fragmented and inadequate response to Russia’s invasion nearly four years ago.
“Europe looks lost,” Zelensky said in an address to the World Economic Forum.
He referred to the movie Groundhog Day, in which the main character must relive the same day over and over again.
With AP, Reuters
Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
