NATO chief says Arctic security, not US control of Greenland, was focus of Trump talks
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After President Donald Trump announced that a new Greenland “framework” had been agreed upon with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Mark Rhutte, the NATO chief told Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier” that US shifting control of Greenland away from Denmark was not discussed in meetings between him and President Donald Trump during the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
When pressed on the details of the reported “framework” agreed upon, which reportedly resulted in Trump’s decision not to impose certain tariffs scheduled to go into effect on February 1, Rhutte said, “In my conversations with Mr. President, this issue has not come up anymore. He is focused on what we need to do to make sure that the huge Arctic region where change is happening now, where the Chinese and the Russians are increasingly active, can protect that.”
“That was really the focus of our discussions,” Rhutte insisted.
TRUMP’S ‘SMALL REQUEST’ for Greenland WILL BE A LIFETIME REAL ESTATE DEAL
NATO chief Mark Rutte said Europe would never have increased its defense spending if it weren’t for Trump. (Denis Balibouse/Reuters)
Trump announced the new “framework” for Greenland at the World Economic Forum this week in a post on social media site Truth Social on Wednesday afternoon.
“Based on my very productive meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, we have established the framework for a future agreement on Greenland and indeed the entire Arctic Region,” the president wrote. “Based on this understanding, I will not be implementing the Tariffs, which are scheduled to come into force on February 1. Additional discussions regarding the Golden Dome involving Greenland are taking place. More information will be provided as the discussions progress.”
Trump stated that Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Representative Steve Witkoff will lead the “negotiations” and report directly to him.
TRUMP TOLD DAVOS Only the US could secure Greenland, insisting he would “not use force”
People wave Greenlandic flags during a mass demonstration opposing President Donald Trump’s offer to buy Greenland on January 17, 2026 in Nuuk, Greenland. (Celal Güneş/Anadolu via Getty Images; Alessandro Rampazzo/AFP via Getty Images)
In an exclusive interview with Fox News, Rhutte called Trump “completely right” that security in the Arctic region needs to be strengthened, noting that the possibility of Russia or China becoming a threat in this region increases every day. The NATO Secretary General also praised Trump’s leadership in getting other NATO countries to pay more for the alliance’s defense.
“I will argue with you tonight about this program, it was he who brought all of Europe and Canada to this famous 5%,” Rhutte insisted. “This is very important for us to equalize our spending and protect ourselves at the same time. And that’s the framework you see in his post.”
In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday evening, Rhutte noted the increasing volatility between NATO member states and Russia and China, which Rhutte said underlined the need to increase security in the Arctic region.
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During the interview, Baier asked Rhutte if he thought other countries were dealing with the Russians and Chinese differently than they had in the past.
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“It is not for me to comment on what individual Allies are doing in terms of their relationship with China,” Rhutte responded. “I think we collectively have a position as NATO. There’s a position that we shouldn’t be naive. I would say you’re going to regret these huge investments that the Chinese have made in the military. They’re not there to parade in Beijing, and the military in Russia is not there to parade in Moscow. They’re there to be used.”
