Naalakkersuisoq for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Motzfeldt (S) urges calm and states that NATO has not negotiated or acted alone on behalf of Greenland without Greenlandic participation.
This is stated in a press release following meetings with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels and subsequent dialogue in connection with the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Donald Trump proclaimed on Wednesday evening that a framework agreement for Greenland has been reached that everyone can live with, after holding a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. This came after the president has repeatedly expressed a desire for control of Greenland.
Following Mark Rutte's meeting with Donald Trump, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greenland had a telephone conversation with Mark Rutte.
- I would like to emphasize that NATO has not negotiated on behalf of Greenland. No formal agreement has been reached on Greenland without the participation of Naalakkersuisut. The Danish government also did not have representatives at the meeting, says Vivian Motzfeldt.
It is also clarified that the Government of Greenland has not requested the NATO Secretary General to negotiate on Greenland's behalf. According to the statement, Mark Rutte has only conveyed Greenland's position and red lines directly to President Trump.
Working group launched
On Monday, January 19, Greenland and Denmark met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels. The meeting was attended by Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, and according to the statement, the parties made clear where Greenland and Denmark's red lines lie. They include the sovereignty of the Kingdom, territorial integrity and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination.
The Greenlandic Government states that Greenland and Denmark see a need for an increased NATO presence in the Arctic and want to cooperate to prevent opponents of the Western alliance from gaining influence in Greenland.
- From my perspective, this is positive news from Davos. That said, we still have to make our reservations, and there is no doubt that we have some work ahead of us before we can know we are on safe ground, says Vivian Motzfeldt.
She also confirms that the work in the established working group is now starting.
