NATO ambassador pushes back on European criticism over Greenland comments

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker pushed back against Europe’s growing backlash over Washington’s focus on Greenland after France announced new military exercises with Denmark, saying Arctic security is a core US defense interest and that Europe “tends to overreact.”

Asked whether the dispute reflected U.S. pressure or European inaction, Whitaker said: “This is ultimately an issue between the United States, Denmark and Greenland.”

Whitaker said Greenland’s importance has been evident for years, as ice melts, reshapes the Arctic and opens new routes. “The security of the High North, which I talked about a lot before this happened, is the most important issue,” he said. “As ice melts and routes open into the Arctic, the security of the Arctic, and therefore that of Greenland, which constitutes the northern flank of the continental United States, is crucial.”

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(L to R) Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles during the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit June 25, 2025 in The Hague, Netherlands. (Brendan Smialowski – Piscine/Getty Images)

He stressed that Greenland’s geographic location places it at the heart of US defense planning. “When considering Greenland as part of access to naval assets, surveillance, outreach and fortification of this part of the Western Hemisphere is crucial to the long-term security of the United States,” Whitaker said.

Whitaker said recent diplomacy shows the problem can be resolved without escalation. “I know there was a very successful meeting between the Danes and Greenland, Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Rubio, so I think it’s going to be constructive,” he said.

He nevertheless warned European allies against fueling tensions. “Europe sometimes has a tendency to overreact whenever an issue is put on the table,” Whitaker said. “It’s one of those things where you have to keep your cool.”

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The Royal Danish Navy military ship HDMS Ejnar Mikkelsen patrols near Nuuk, Greenland, Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (Evgueni Maloletka/AP Photo)

NATO, deterrence and the “Reagan spirit”

Speaking from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Whitaker used Reagan’s “peace through strength” doctrine to justify his pressure on NATO allies to spend more and act more quickly.

“The most important thing we do at NATO is, number one, the United States is strong. Nobody denies that. We have demonstrated through Midnight Hammer, through what we have done in Venezuela and elsewhere, that the United States is capable and can project power. We want all of our allies within NATO to be equally strong, and they are not at this point,” he said.

He added: “Some of them have certainly become more capable, and that’s why you can’t just look at the big picture when it comes to all of our NATO allies. But there are others who are not.”

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A Polish Army soldier sits in a tank while a NATO flag flies behind him during NATO VJTF Noble Jump exercises June 18, 2015, in Zagan, Poland. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

“Europe and the EU will have to untie their hands behind their backs,” he continued. “They’re going to have to deregulate, they’re going to have to find more capital and economic growth, because ultimately that’s what’s going to allow them to keep the promises they’ve made to increase their defense spending and therefore their defense capabilities.”

“One of the things I talk about all the time with our friends in downtown UE,” Whitaker added, “is that they need to get their economy going again, and there are tried and tested ways to do that,” he said.

Whitaker said his top priority was ensuring NATO allies met major defense commitments agreed last year in The Hague.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (right) and U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker (left) arrive at NATO Headquarters on the first day of the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting April 3, 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. (Omar Havana/Getty Images)

“That’s number one on my list right now,” he said, “ensuring that the political commitments we made in The Hague translate into real military capabilities within NATO.”

He said proximity to Russia has shaped how seriously countries take the threat.

“You look at the Baltic countries like Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, and you look at the Nordic countries… they are very aware of the threats that Russia poses. [poses]” Whitaker said, citing Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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A NATO military force stands guard ahead of the two-day NATO summit at the Global Forum in The Hague, June 22, 2025. (Remko de Waal/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

Poland, he added, stands out. “Poland is clear-eyed,” Whitaker said. “They’re going to spend more than 5 percent on base defense in a year or two.”

Others, he says, are still lagging behind. “I keep a dashboard, a one-page dashboard on my desk, that is updated regularly,” Whitaker said. “It’s too early to tell.” “It has to be a question of capabilities,” he said. “This must make them stronger, ready to fight tonight.”

“President Trump announced a $1.5 trillion defense budget,” Whitaker said. “We have demonstrated our capabilities that no one else can match at this time.”

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NATO leaders pose in this photo taken in June. Military leaders are meeting Tuesday evening in Washington to discuss security options for Ukraine. (Claudia Greco/Reuters)

“I’m here at the Reagan Library and it reminds me that Ronald Reagan was really capable of putting these policies in place to spur growth,” Whitaker said. “President Trump has certainly followed that same tradition, unleashing the American entrepreneur, unleashing American innovation and getting out of the way, removing regulations so American businesses can grow and prosper.”

As NATO advances, Whitaker said pressure on allies will persist. “We are asking our European and Canadian allies to do more,” he said. “So far, so good.”