Greenland’s sovereignty not up for negotiation, Denmark says after Trump eases threats

“We can negotiate on everything political: security, investments, the economy. But we cannot negotiate on our sovereignty,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a statement. “I was informed that was not the case either.”

“Only Denmark and Greenland themselves can make decisions on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland,” she added.

Denmark seeks to continue negotiations with its allies on strengthening Arctic security, “provided this is done while respecting our territorial integrity,” she said.

Trump also provided little information about the compromise he says he reached with Rutte.

“The solution, if adopted, will be great for the United States of America and all NATO nations,” he said in a post on his Truth Social platform. He added that he would no longer impose tariffs on eight NATO allies, as they were scheduled to take effect on February 1.

Some American supporters of Trump have welcomed his more muscular approach to diplomacy with longtime US allies.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who has championed the transatlantic alliance for decades, said the president convinced him that “providing United States legal title to Greenland through a legal and fair process” was the best option.

He also criticized and caricatured the European approach.

“Life is not a weak, humorless way to live,” he posted on

Still no doubt bruised, European officials hope Thursday’s attention in Davos will focus on Ukraine, which continues to fight a nearly four-year-old Russian invasion amid the diplomatic and internecine chaos engulfing its Western backers.

Speaking at a breakfast focused on the conflict, Rutte urged leaders to “keep their eyes on the Ukraine ball.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Davos on Thursday and met with Trump. Meanwhile, Putin will meet with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.