DAVOS / NUUK — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he had secured “total and permanent” access for the United States to Greenland under a framework agreement discussed with NATO, reigniting geopolitical tensions in the Arctic while raising concerns among European allies over sovereignty and transatlantic trust.

Speaking from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said the arrangement would grant the U.S. unlimited access with no expiration date, while ruling out the use of force to take control of the Arctic island. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that allies are now expected to step up their commitment to Arctic security amid what the alliance views as growing threats from Russia and China.

However, the details of the agreement remain unclear. Denmark swiftly rejected any suggestion that Greenland’s sovereignty was part of the discussions. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said no negotiations had taken place regarding sovereignty, stressing that while security cooperation in the Arctic is open for discussion, territorial integrity is not.

Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, welcomed Trump’s more conciliatory tone but said his government had not been informed of the substance of any deal. “We are ready to negotiate a stronger partnership, but sovereignty is a red line,” Nielsen said in Nuuk, adding that Greenland’s territorial integrity and international law must be respected.

According to sources familiar with the talks, Trump and Rutte agreed to pursue further negotiations involving the United States, Denmark and Greenland to update the 1951 defense agreement that governs U.S. military presence on the island. That framework already allows Washington to operate military bases, including the Pituffik Space Base in northern Greenland, provided Danish and Greenlandic authorities are informed.

The proposed update would reportedly seek to limit Chinese and Russian investment in Greenland and enhance NATO’s strategic footprint in the Arctic. Rutte said NATO’s military commanders are expected to outline additional security requirements, potentially as early as 2026.

The episode has strained transatlantic relations, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warning that the dispute had dealt a significant blow to trust between Europe and the United States. European leaders, meeting in an emergency summit in Brussels, expressed concern that internal disagreements among allies only benefit geopolitical rivals.

Despite Trump’s partial retreat from earlier threats, diplomats and analysts say the Greenland controversy has intensified European doubts about Washington’s long-term reliability. In Greenland itself, residents voiced confusion and unease over the rapid shifts in rhetoric and policy surrounding their future.