Danish PM Mette Frederiksen is visiting Greenland's capital Nuuk for talks with the territory's leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, after a rollercoaster week that saw US President Donald Trump roll back his threats to forcibly take over the Arctic island and agree to further negotiations.
Tensions had risen precariously over the past couple of weeks until a stunning turnaround on Wednesday, when Trump suddenly ruled out military action and withdrew his threats to slap tariffs on several European allies.
Trump posted on social media that a framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland had been reached, following his meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
However, few details have been given, raising questions about what exactly was agreed between the US president and the secretary general.
The Danish prime minister travelled directly from Brussels, where she also met face-to-face with Rutte. According to Rutte's post on social media, they agreed to enhance deterrence and defense in the Arctic.
Upon landing at Nuuk airport, Frederiksen was warmly greeted by Nielsen, who expressed solidarity during this challenging phase. 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.
Frederiksen emphasized that the current situation is serious and that there is a diplomatic, political track that we will pursue. Her visit serves as preparation for the next steps in addressing the evolving geopolitical landscape.
On Thursday, Trump stated in an interview that the US would gain full access and rights concerning military installations on Greenland without a timeline for negotiation, which has been met with skepticism by Danish and Greenlandic officials.
The US currently maintains a limited military presence at the Pituffik base in Greenland, with a long-standing defense pact with Denmark allowing for the possible expansion of US military operations.
As Denmark's Foreign Minister indicated, upcoming negotiations are expected to focus heavily on security-related issues, while maintaining steadfast recognition of Greenland's sovereignty as a non-negotiable element.
