Danish PM Mette Frederiksen in Greenland for ‘show of support’

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen visited Greenland’s capital Nuuk for talks with the territory’s head, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, after a rollercoaster week that saw US President Donald Trump backtrack on his threats to forcefully take over the Arctic island and agree to further negotiations.

Tensions have risen dangerously over the past two weeks, until a surprising reversal on Wednesday, when Trump abruptly ruled out military action, and retracted 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, after his meeting with Nato chief Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

However, few details have been provided, and there are questions about what exactly was agreed between the US president and the secretary general.

The Danish prime minister traveled directly from Brussels, where he also met face-to-face with Rutte early Friday morning. According to Rutte’s post on X, they agreed “to improve deterrence and defense in the Arctic”.

After landing at Nuuk airport, Frederiksen was met on the tarmac by Nielsen, who hugged him.

“I am first and foremost in Greenland today to show our strong support to Denmark for the people of Greenland,” he told reporters. “It’s a very difficult time, everyone can see that.”

“This is a serious situation that we are in. Everyone can see that. Now there is a diplomatic, political path that we will continue,” he said. His trip was a “working” visit to prepare for their “next steps,” he said.

Last Thursday, Trump told Fox News that the US will “get everything we want for free” and that a “piece” of its planned “Golden Dome” missile defense system will be placed in Greenland.

When asked if this was an actual “takeover”, he replied: “It is general access. There is no end, no time limit.”

Earlier the New York Times reported that one idea being discussed was Denmark ceded sovereignty to small pockets of land where the US will build military bases.

Officials in Denmark and Greenland have strongly pushed against giving up any form of ownership, and have repeatedly stated that sovereignty is a “red line”.

Ahead of an emergency European summit in the Belgian capital on Thursday evening, Frederiksen said Greenland’s sovereignty was non-negotiable, although Denmark was ready to work on “security”.

The US has around 150 military personnel at its Pituffik base in the northwestern tip of the territory.

Under a defense agreement with Denmark, dating back to 1951, the US can build up its military presence and deploy more troops.

That was updated in 2004, with the Bush administration, to include Greenland as an equal partner in the deal.

AFP reported that sources familiar with the talks said the US and Denmark would renegotiate the 1951 treaty.

The Danish national newspaper Berlingske also wrote that a renegotiation is possible, that the Danish and Greenlandic sides have not rejected the renewal of that agreement. However, mineral rights or territorial surrender are not on the table.

The BBC reached Denmark’s Ministry of Defense, which declined to comment.

Meanwhile, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Friday that there is no detailed plan, but that negotiations will start soon, focusing on “security, security, and security”.