NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte calls for “thoughtful diplomacy” to address Greenland tensions as President Trump pushes US claims at Davos.
DAVOS: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said “thoughtful diplomacy” was the only way to deal with rising tensions over Greenland.
He made the remarks at the World Economic Forum as US President Donald Trump arrived in Davos pushing American claims on the Danish autonomous territory.
“I see that there are these tensions at the moment, there’s no doubt,” Rutte said. “I can assure you, the only way to deal with that is, in the end, thoughtful diplomacy.”
Rutte confirmed he was working on the issue behind the scenes ahead of a planned meeting with Trump at the Swiss resort.
He has sought to redirect Trump’s interest in Greenland into a broader NATO discussion on Arctic security.
“When it comes to the Arctic, I think President Trump is right. Other leaders in NATO are right. We need to defend the Arctic,” Rutte stated.
The NATO chief dismissed fears the crisis could cause the 76-year-old alliance to collapse.
“NATO is crucial, not only for the defence of Europe, but also for the defence of the United States,” he said.
Rutte also pushed back at Trump’s repeated doubts over whether European allies would defend the US if needed.
“I tell him, yes they will,” Rutte asserted. “I have no doubt the US will come to the rescue here, and we will come to the rescue of the US.”
Finnish President Alexander Stubb, speaking alongside Rutte, expressed confidence a diplomatic solution could be found.
“You have two schools of thought here on Greenland. One is to de-escalate, and the other one is to escalate, to de-escalate. And I think at the end of the day, we’ll find an off ramp,” Stubb said.
Trump has threatened tariffs on European allies who oppose his designs on Greenland, prompting the EU to consider trade countermeasures.
