Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is visiting Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, for high-level talks with the territory’s leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
The visit follows a rollercoaster week in US-Europe relations that saw President Donald Trump roll back his threats to forcibly take over the Arctic island and agree to further negotiations.
After landing at Nuuk airport, Frederiksen was greeted on the tarmac by Nielsen with a supportive hug.
“I am first and foremost in Greenland today to show our strong Danish support for the Greenlandic people,” she told reporters. “It’s a very difficult time; everyone can see that. It is a serious situation we are in. Now there is a diplomatic, political track that we will pursue.”
Frederiksen described her trip as a “working visit” to prepare the Kingdom’s next steps.
A Diplomatic Shift After Davos
Tensions had risen precariously over the past couple of weeks until a stunning turnaround on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Trump suddenly ruled out military action and withdrew his threats to impose tariffs on several European allies.
Following a meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte, Trump posted on social media that a “framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland” had been reached.
On Thursday, Trump told Fox News that the U.S. “gets everything we want at no cost” and confirmed that a “piece” of his planned “Golden Dome” missile defense system would be placed on Greenland. When asked if this constituted an actual “acquisition,” he replied: “It’s total access. There’s no end, there’s no time limit.” Notably, Trump did not mention American ownership of the island.
Optimism vs. Skepticism in the Arctic
For former Danish Foreign Minister Martin Lidegaard, the shift in rhetoric is a positive sign.
“I hear a change in the language from the President,” Lidegaard said. “He does not necessarily think he has to own [Greenland]. I’m a bit more optimistic than I have been for quite a long time, where we saw only escalation after escalation.”
However, Greenlandic MP Aaja Chemnitz told the BBC that rebuilding trust will take much more than a change in language. “I think it’s too early to lower our shoulder… Many people are confused and concerned,” she said.
Greenland’s Sovereignty Over Minerals
The debate over Arctic security is closely tied to the island’s vast natural resources. Trump previously told CNBC that an “ultimate long-term deal” over Greenland pertains to security and minerals, and everything else.”
Chemnitz remains highly skeptical of including resources in international security talks. “Minerals haven’t been discussed with NATO. Why should they do that? This is completely up to Greenland,” she said, emphasizing that Nuuk holds legal authority over its own land and resources.
