European leaders have stepped up following public statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, asserting that the United States “needs Greenland for national security.”

President Macron of France, Chancellor Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, President Duda of Poland, Prime Minister Sánchez of Spain, Prime Minister Sunak of the United Kingdom, and mainly Prime Minister Frederiksen of Denmark, made a joint statement reaffirming their position on Greenland and Arctic security.

The communiqué issued on February 6, 2026, stressed that the Arctic is a shared security priority for Europe and the transatlantic alliance, but one that must be managed through cooperation, not unilateral claims.

European leaders emphasized that NATO remains the central framework for Arctic security and confirmed that European allies have already increased their military presence, activities, and investments in the region to deter potential adversaries.

The statement highlighted that the Kingdom of Denmark, including Greenland, is a NATO member, underlining the alliance’s existing role in safeguarding the area.

Drawing a clear line on sovereignty,
European leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the UN Charter, stressing respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders.

“Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland,” The statement says.

While acknowledging the United States as an essential partner in Arctic security — both as a NATO ally and through the 1951 defense agreement with Denmark — European governments said that partnership does not override international law or self-determination.

As geopolitical competition intensifies in the High North, Europe’s response signaled that while it remains committed to transatlantic cooperation, it is equally determined to defend sovereignty, multilateralism, and the right of Arctic peoples to decide their own future.