Copenhagen: A group of top European leaders issued a joint declaration on Tuesday, underscoring Greenland’s strategic importance to Arctic and transatlantic security, while reaffirming that decisions about the territory rest solely with Denmark and the people of Greenland.
The statement, issued by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, placed the Arctic firmly at the centre of Europe’s security priorities. The leaders stressed that collective action through NATO is vital to protecting the region.
The declaration highlighted that the Arctic has become a key operational focus for the alliance, with European members expanding their presence, capabilities, and investments to deter potential threats. Denmark, including Greenland, forms an integral part of NATO territory.
The leaders emphasised that safeguarding the region must align with international law, particularly the UN Charter’s principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and respect for established borders. The statement described these rules as universal commitments that Europe remains determined to uphold.
The US was singled out as an essential partner, both as a NATO ally and under the longstanding 1951 defence pact governing American military cooperation with the Kingdom of Denmark.
Reaffirming Greenland’s political status, the leaders stated unequivocally that its future rests in the hands of its own people. They stressed that any decision or policy related to Greenland is the exclusive responsibility of Denmark and Greenland.
