Greenland PM Nielsen Appreciates NATO European Allies' Support

Greenland's Prime Minister on Tuesday thanked European leaders and members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for their support, after US President Donald Trump again claimed the Danish autonomous territory and called for talks with the US government.

The US military intervention in Venezuela has revived President Trump's long-standing plan for Denmark's autonomous territory in the Arctic, which has untapped reserves of rare minerals and could become a vital player as polar ice melts opens new shipping lanes.

However, amid repeated claims from the US leader and his entourage in recent days, Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reiterated that Greenland is not for sale and only the people of Greenland have the right to determine their future.

Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain had previously joined Denmark in saying they would defend "universal principles" of "sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of borders."

"This support is important at a time when fundamental international principles are being challenged," PM Nielsen wrote on social media, launching Al Arabiya from AFP (7/1).

"For this support, I would like to express my deepest gratitude," he continued.

A joint statement by European leaders called Arctic security a "top priority" for the continent and "critical" for international and transatlantic security.

"Denmark, including Greenland, is part of NATO," the statement added, urging a collective approach with the United States to security in the polar region.

The statement was signed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

The United States is "an important partner in this effort," they said, adding: "Greenland belongs to its people. Only Denmark and Greenland, and they are the ones who have the right to decide on issues concerning Denmark and Greenland."

"At a time when the President of the United States once again states that the United States is very serious about Greenland, the support of our allies in NATO is very important and undeniable," he said.

Washington already has a military base in Greenland, which is home to about 57,000 people.

Earlier, President Trump indicated on Sunday that a decision on Greenland might be taken "in about two months", after the situation in Venezuela had calmed down.

PM Nielsen reiterated his call for the United States to "engage in a respectful dialogue through appropriate diplomatic and political channels, and through the use of existing forums based on existing agreements with the United States."

"The dialogue must be carried out with respect for the fact that Greenland's status is based on international law and the principle of territorial integrity," he said.