Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen holds a press convention within the Mirror Corridor on the Prime Minister’s Workplace, at Christiansborg in Copenhagen, Denmark, on January 13, 2026.
Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Photographs
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Thursday welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s Greenland pivot, saying the nation is ready to carry talks with Washington on its vaunted “Golden Dome” missile protection plan.
In a press release, Frederiksen stated it was “good and pure” that the difficulty of Arctic safety had been mentioned between Trump and NATO Secretary Normal Mark Rutte on the World Financial Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland.
Trump stated on Wednesday that he had secured a “framework” deal on Greenland, together with entry to mineral rights for the U.S. and its European allies in addition to collaboration on the Golden Dome.
The settlement seems to mark one thing of a climbdown for the U.S. president, who has lengthy advocated for management of the self-governing Danish territory and beforehand refused to rule out the usage of navy power.
Denmark’s prime minister stated she had spoken to NATO’s Rutte each earlier than and after his assembly with Trump at Davos, including that the navy alliance is “totally conscious” of Copenhagen’s place.
“We will negotiate on all the things political; safety, investments, economic system. However we can not negotiate on our sovereignty. I’ve been knowledgeable that this has not been the case both,” Frederiksen stated, in accordance with a Google translation.
“The Kingdom of Denmark needs to proceed to interact in a constructive dialogue with allies on how we are able to strengthen safety within the Arctic, together with the US’s Golden Dome, offered that that is finished with respect for our territorial integrity,” she added.
Rolled out in Could final yr and sometimes in comparison with Israel’s “Iron Dome” system, Trump’s proposed Golden Dome is a visionary multibillion-dollar initiative designed to defend the U.S. from all missile assaults.
“They will be concerned within the Golden Dome, and they’ll be concerned in mineral rights, and so are we,” Trump instructed CNBC’s Joe Kernen in an interview on Wednesday.
When requested how lengthy the deal would final, the president stated: “Ceaselessly.”
‘Extra discussions are being held’
In a social media publish shortly earlier than chatting with CNBC on the World Financial Discussion board, Trump stated he would not be imposing tariffs towards eight European nations for opposing his plans to amass Greenland.
The U.S. president had proposed tariffs of 10% on items from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the U.Ok., from Feb. 1, which might enhance to 25% from June 1.
French President Emmanuel Macron known as the threats “essentially unacceptable,” whereas British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the transfer “fully mistaken.”
“Extra discussions are being held regarding The Golden Dome because it pertains to Greenland. Additional info shall be made obtainable as discussions progress,” Trump stated on Fact Social.
Inventory markets rose instantly after Trump posted the replace, with additional features anticipated throughout the globe on Thursday.
Why is Greenland seen as strategically essential?
Positioned between the U.S. and Russia, Greenland has lengthy been considered as an space of excessive strategic significance, significantly relating to Arctic safety.
The mineral-rich territory of almost 57,000 folks is in shut proximity to rising Arctic delivery routes, with the speedy melting of ice creating alternatives to considerably cut back Asia-Europe journey time when put next with the Suez Canal.
Site visitors strikes alongside a slender street as autos exit the Sullorsuaq tunnel in Nuuk, Greenland, on Jan. 21, 2026.
Jonathan Nackstrand | AFP | Getty Photographs
Greenland additionally sits astride the so-called GIUK Hole, a naval choke level between Greenland, Iceland and the U.Ok. that hyperlinks the Arctic to the Atlantic Ocean.
The largely frozen island can be identified for an abundance of untapped uncooked supplies, from oil and gasoline reserves to crucial mineral deposits and a treasure trove of uncommon earth parts.
