European leaders are reinforcing Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland following renewed discussion of its potential acquisition by the United States. In a joint statement released Tuesday, the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, and several other European nations publicly opposed any attempt to unilaterally alter Greenland’s political status, emphasizing the island’s importance to Arctic security and international law. The move comes after former U.S. President Donald Trump again voiced interest in Greenland, reportedly linking it to recent U.S. foreign policy actions [[2]].
European leaders have rallied in support of Denmark, publicly opposing former U.S. President Donald Trump’s past proposals to acquire Greenland. The unified stance underscores the strategic importance of the Arctic region and the commitment to upholding international law.
The leaders issuing the joint statement include French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
“The security of the Arctic remains a top priority for Europe and is vital for international and transatlantic security,” the European leaders stated, according to AFP on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
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The leaders affirmed that Denmark, including the territory of Greenland, is a member of NATO and called on the United States to respect national territorial sovereignty.
“Therefore, security in the Arctic must be achieved collectively, together with NATO allies including the United States, upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders,” the statement continued.
“These are universal principles, and we will not cease to defend them,” they added.
While acknowledging the United States as an important NATO ally, the European leaders emphasized that Greenland belongs to its people, not to any foreign power.
“Greenland belongs to its people. Denmark and Greenland, and only they, have the right to decide matters concerning Denmark and Greenland,” they stated.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen previously condemned the prospect of a U.S. acquisition of Greenland. She warned that a U.S. takeover would effectively end the military alliance of NATO.
Her comments came in response to statements made by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who repeatedly expressed interest in the strategically important and mineral-rich Arctic island being under U.S. control. Trump renewed these calls following a U.S. operation in Venezuela over the weekend.
The U.S. military operation in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, to apprehend President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, surprised the international community. This action raised concerns in both Denmark and Greenland, which is a semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark and therefore part of NATO.
Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, denounced Trump’s remarks and cautioned against severe consequences. Numerous European leaders voiced their solidarity with them.
“If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then it’s over,” Frederiksen told Danish television station TV2 on Monday, January 5, local time. “That means, it includes our NATO and thus the security that has been in place since the end of World War II,” the Danish leader stated, according to the Associated Press on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
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