Frederiksen advocates resolving Greenland crisis by reinforcing NATO presence

Berlin (EFE).- The Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated on Monday her hope to resolve the crisis through a permanent NATO mission in the autonomous territory, which is dependent on the Kingdom of Denmark, and through bilateral negotiations with the United States.

While in Hamburg, Germany, for the third North Sea Countries Summit, Frederiksen thanked her European colleagues for their support and for respecting red lines that «are not Danish, but European and should be global,» in reference to respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

Frederiksen explained that the crisis triggered by US President Donald Trump’s annexationist aspirations had been addressed during the summit attended by representatives from nine North Sea countries, the European Commission (EC), and NATO.

«Some time ago, we asked NATO to establish a lasting presence in the Arctic, including Greenland. So far, there are no NATO soldiers present,» she said.

«However, the governments of Greenland and Denmark have requested permanent stationing, and I hope ‘Baltic Sentry,’ the surveillance mission in the Baltic, can be replicated in Greenland,» Frederiksen added.

It would be of great importance, not only for NATO’s northern flank, but also as a message to Russia and China, she said.

«We are working on it, and at the same time, we are talking bilaterally about issues affecting us and the US,» she said, summarizing her government’s strategy.

When asked if the pre-agreement between the US and NATO to resolve tensions could include renegotiating the 1951 pact between Copenhagen and Washington, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who also appeared at the press conference, expressed skepticism.

Merz recalled that, in recent decades, the Americans reduced their military presence on the island from 30,000 to 200 personnel on their own initiative.

«A common effort is necessary here to better protect the north,» he said, referring to a joint Alliance initiative as the most desirable option. EFE

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