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

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is visiting Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, to meet the region’s leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, after a roller-coaster week in which US President Donald Trump rebuffed threats to seize the Arctic island by force and agreed to resume talks.

Tensions had been rising unsteadily over the past few weeks until a surprising reversal on Wednesday, when Trump abruptly ruled out military action and dropped threats to impose tariffs on many European allies.

After his meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump shared on social media that the “framework for a future agreement on Greenland” had been reached.

But few details have been given, 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 on “strengthening deterrence and defense in the Arctic.”

After landing at Nuuk airport, Nielsen met Frederiksen on the tarmac and hugged him.

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

“The situation we are in is a serious one. Everyone sees it. Now we have a diplomatic and political path to follow,” he said. He said his visit was a “working” visit to prepare for his “next steps.”

Trump on Thursday he told Fox News He said the US would “get everything we want for free” and that a “part” of his planned “Golden Dome” missile defense system would be deployed in Greenland.

When asked if this was a real “purchase” he replied: “It’s all access. There’s no end, there’s no time limit.”

The New York Times previously reported that one idea being discussed was: Denmark gives up sovereignty over small pieces of land Where the USA will build military bases.

Danish and Greenlandic officials have strongly opposed any relinquishment of property 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 willing to work on “security”.

The United States has about 150 military personnel at its sole Pituffik base at the northwestern tip of the region.

Under a defense agreement with Denmark dating back to 1951, the United States can already increase its military presence and deploy more troops.

This was updated with the Bush administration in 2004 to include Greenland as an equal partner in the agreement.

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

The Danish national newspaper Berlingske also writes that renegotiation is possible and that the Danish and Greenlandic sides do not refuse to review this agreement. But the surrender of mining rights or land was never on the table.

The BBC reached out to the Danish Ministry of Defence, which declined to comment.

Meanwhile, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Friday that there was no detailed plan, but that negotiations focused on “safety, security and security” would begin soon.