European NATO leaders have drawn a red line in the Arctic, sending a clear message to Washington.
In a firm joint statement released on Tuesday, the leaders of eight NATO member states reacted to Donald Trump’s threat to annex Greenland, stating that “Greenland belongs to its people” and that only Denmark and Greenland have the right to decide the island’s future.
This statement follows the Trump administration’s revival of the idea of a US takeover of Greenland, a vast autonomous Arctic territory that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Since his return to the White House, Trump has repeatedly insisted that Greenland should become American and has categorically refused to rule out the use of force.
This attitude alone has alarmed Europe. What prompted the leaders to react now is the escalation of Trump’s rhetoric after the US military intervention against Venezuela and the announcement of the arrest of its leader, Nicolás Maduro. European officials clearly perceived a strategy and acted to counter it.
According to Newsweek, the statement was signed by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Denmark, whose sovereignty was publicly questioned by Trump, initiated this move.
The group emphasized that NATO’s role in the Arctic has strengthened, but not to justify a US annexation of territory.
The statement, as reported by Newsweek, stipulates: “NATO has made it clear that the Arctic is a priority and that European allies are strengthening their presence.” We and many other allies have increased our presence, activities, and investments to maintain Arctic security and deter adversaries. The Kingdom of Denmark, including Greenland, is a member of NATO.”
This is followed by the passage clearly addressed to Trump:
“Greenland belongs to its people. Denmark and Greenland, and they alone, have the right to make decisions concerning their affairs.”
No beating around the bush. No “mutual discussions.” No “strategic talks.” Only a categorical rejection of Washington’s claims that Greenland is up for grabs.
The statement also emphasized the need to address Arctic security collectively, “upholding the principles of the United Nations Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders.” The leaders stated: “These are universal principles, and we will continue to defend them.”
This language is significant because it echoes the arguments used by NATO to justify its support for Ukraine against Russia. European leaders are making it clear that these principles do not disappear when the pressure comes from Washington rather than Moscow.
The statement acknowledged that the United States remains a “key partner” for Arctic security, both as a NATO ally and through the 1951 defense treaty between Denmark and the United States. But this acknowledgment of cooperation was immediately followed by a Danish warning about the consequences of Trump crossing the red line.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was unequivocal: if the United States were to militarily attack another NATO member, “everything would stop.” This includes the Alliance itself, the alliance on which the United States has relied since World War II.
Meanwhile, Trump continues to assert that US control of Greenland would be beneficial to Europe. On Sunday, he argued that a takeover by the United States would be advantageous for the European Union, an assertion clearly rejected by European leaders.
At the White House, these statements heightened concerns. On Monday, in an interview with CNN, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller publicly questioned Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland. He did not confirm whether the United States would use force, but he did not rule it out either.
As of Tuesday morning, the White House had still not responded to the European statement.
