Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen declared that the country is ready to discuss security in the Arctic region with the US and NATO allies, but there are "red lines" that it will not allow any party to cross.
Speaking at the emergency summit of the European Union (EU) on January 22, Ms. Frederiksen said that almost all NATO members agreed to deploy troops to ensure security in the Arctic region, including Greenland.
Of course, we can discuss with the US how to strengthen security cooperation in this region," the Danish leader said, while emphasizing that the defense agreement between Copenhagen and Washington has been in effect since 1951.
When asked about the limits, or how Ms. Fredriksen described them as "red lines", the Danish Prime Minister said: "We are a sovereign nation and cannot negotiate about it, because this is part of the most fundamental democratic values.
From an international legal perspective, Greenland is currently an autonomous territory belonging to the Kingdom of Denmark. Accordingly, Ms. Frederiksen considers protecting Greenland as protecting national sovereignty and as a "red line" that cannot be negotiated within any cooperation framework.
Ms. Fredriksen also called on EU allies to unite, saying that "when Europe is not divided, when we stand together and show clarity and firmness in our determination to protect ourselves, the results will prove themselves".
Previously, on January 21, US President Donald Trump said that he had reached a framework agreement on the future of Greenland with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
It is an agreement that everyone is satisfied with. A long-term, even permanent agreement. It puts everything in a very good position, especially on security and minerals" - Mr. Trump emphasized, affirming that this is "the agreement of the future".
A NATO spokesman said that 7 NATO member states with territory in the Arctic will closely coordinate to ensure collective security. Accordingly, negotiations between Denmark, Greenland and the United States will continue, with the goal of ensuring that Russia and China cannot have a foothold - both economically and militarily - in Greenland.
