Danish PM says sovereignty non-negotiable, urges NATO presence in Arctic

The status of Denmark as a sovereign state cannot be negotiated, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Thursday ahead of an emergency European Council summit in Brussels, reported Xinhua.

She said Denmark has asked the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to strengthen its presence in the Arctic region. "We need a permanent presence from NATO in the Arctic region, including around Greenland."

Frederiksen reaffirmed that the kingdom's sovereignty is the red line. "We have said from the very beginning that our status as a sovereign state is not up for discussion and cannot be changed," she added.

Noting that Denmark has been working closely with the United States for many years, she underlined that cooperation must be based on mutual respect and without threats.

"When Europe is not divided, when we stand together, and when we are clear and strong in our willingness to stand for ourselves, then the results will show," she added.

In the face of the latest tariff threats on Greenland from U.S. President Donald Trump, the European Council planned to hold an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday evening. However, posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump announced on Wednesday that he decided to drop the planned tariffs on eight European countries as a "framework for a future deal" on Greenland and the Arctic area had emerged from talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Meanwhile, earlier on the day Frederiksen stated that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte does not have a mandate to negotiate on behalf of Denmark or Greenland.

The statement followed comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who said Wednesday that his meeting with Rutte produced "the framework of a future deal" concerning Greenland and the broader Arctic region.

Frederiksen told Danish media that while Denmark has coordinated with a number of partners, including Rutte, to address the challenges facing Greenland, Rutte is not authorized to negotiate on behalf of Denmark or Greenland.

"The aim is to find a path that respects international law as well as the sovereignty of Denmark and Greenland," she added.

Frederiksen said that NATO can only negotiate matters on NATO's behalf relating to its own Arctic operations. She added that all parties agreed Arctic nations should strengthen cooperation and maintain a long-term presence in the region.

Frederiksen also reaffirmed Denmark's red lines, saying that Greenland's future should be decided by Greenland and sovereignty is not negotiable.

Meanwhile, Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reiterated on Thursday that sovereignty remains a red line for his government, even amid intense pressure from the United States.

"Our territorial integrity and borders are absolutely red lines that must not be crossed," Nielsen told a press conference in Nuuk, capital of Greenland. "Greenland chooses the Greenland we know today, as part of the Kingdom of Denmark."

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he had ruled out using military force to acquire Greenland, claiming his talks with NATO Secretary General Mark had produced "the framework of a future deal" concerning Greenland and the broader Arctic region.

However, Nielsen said that he does not know the specific details of this framework. He stressed that no one other than Greenland and Denmark can make agreements concerning Greenland and Denmark.

When questioned whether Greenland now considers itself safe, Nielsen said that, prior to Wednesday's statement by Trump, the possibility of a U.S. military attempt could not be dismissed.

He stressed that Greenland demands future talks be conducted with full respect for its sovereignty.

Earlier on Thursday, Trump told Fox Business that the White House is negotiating a deal to secure U.S. "total access" to Denmark's Greenland with no time limit.