NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said President Donald Trump was “absolutely right” about the strategic importance of the Arctic, delivering remarks that drew attention after Trump renewed his push regarding Greenland during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Trump raised the issue Tuesday while speaking with reporters in Ankara, Turkey, arguing that Greenland remains vital to U.S. national security and suggesting Denmark has failed to adequately support the territory.
“Well, that’s what hurt my relationship with NATO, because Greenland doesn’t help Denmark,” Trump said.
The president went on to argue that Denmark has not invested enough in Greenland while emphasizing what he views as the island’s importance to the United States.
“Denmark doesn’t spend money to really help Greenland, but it’s an important part for the United States, and it’s surrounded by China ships and Russian ships, and that’s not going to happen,” Trump said.
According to The Washington Post, Trump’s latest comments prompted Denmark to once again reaffirm its commitment to defending Greenland.
The following day, Rutte addressed the issue during a news conference, where he expressed agreement with Trump’s assessment of the Arctic’s growing strategic importance.
Referring to discussions the two had previously held in Davos in January, Rutte said Trump had correctly identified the security challenges facing the region.
“Mr. President I agreed in Davos in January, is first of all for, when it comes to the defense of the Arctic, he absolutely was right, because there is a huge risk that Russia and China will gain more and more access to the Arctic,” Rutte said.
The NATO chief explained that the alliance has been working with Arctic nations to strengthen regional security through a coordinated effort involving member countries bordering the Arctic.
According to Rutte, those countries include the United States, Canada, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway.
He noted that the United States participates through both North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), while the European Arctic allies are working together with support from the broader NATO alliance.
Rutte said those efforts are part of “Arctic Sentry,” an initiative launched by NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander in early February to strengthen the alliance’s posture in the Arctic.
He emphasized that NATO’s responsibility is to ensure the Arctic remains secure in light of evolving geopolitical concerns.
Rutte also addressed a separate issue involving discussions among the United States, Greenland, and Denmark regarding future investments and military cooperation.
While acknowledging those talks are taking place, he stressed that he is not personally involved in those negotiations and declined to comment on their substance.
According to Rutte, the trilateral discussions are being led by the foreign ministers of the United States, Greenland, and Denmark.
He said the talks concern future investments tied to the Golden Dome as well as the potential deployment of troops to Greenland.
Rutte added that the discussions are also intended to ensure any future agreements remain valid should Greenland’s constitutional relationship within the Kingdom of Denmark change.
Because of that possibility, Greenland itself is participating directly in the negotiations, he said.
“I’m not involved in those talks,” Rutte said. “So your question are you allowed etc. On the second part this is up to the three parties.”
He concluded by reiterating that his own focus remains on NATO’s military mission in the Arctic.
“When it comes to the first, of course, it is my role to work with our military leaders to make sure that we implement this Arctic Sentry and that’s exactly what we are doing,” Rutte said.
Rutte’s comments represented a notable endorsement of Trump’s assessment that increasing Russian and Chinese activity has elevated the Arctic’s strategic importance, while drawing a distinction between NATO’s regional defense mission and the separate diplomatic discussions involving the United States, Greenland, and Denmark.
