Canada backs Greenland and Denmark, rejects Trump’s push for US control of Arctic territory

Canada rebuffs Trump on Greenland sovereignty

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday reiterated Ottawa’s firm backing for Greenland and Denmark, pushing back against repeated suggestions by US President Donald Trump that Washington could take control of the Arctic territory.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Carney stressed Canada’s solidarity with Denmark as a NATO ally and made clear that the alliance’s core principles were not up for debate.

“We are NATO partners with Denmark. Our full partnership stands. Our obligations under Article 5 and Article 2 stand, and we stand fully behind those,” he said, adding that Canada would continue to support both Denmark and the alliance.

Carney also disclosed that Greenland featured in his recent discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying the two leaders shared similar views on sovereignty in the Arctic.

“I had discussions with President Xi about the situation in Greenland, about sovereignty in the Arctic, and about the sovereignty of the people of Greenland and Denmark. I found much alignment of views in that regard,” he said.

Restating Canada’s position, Carney said Greenland — a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark — must be free to determine its own future without outside pressure.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that US control of Greenland is necessary for national security, at times saying the island could be taken over “whether they like it or not.”

On Friday, he sharpened his rhetoric further, saying Washington was weighing tariffs on countries that oppose his plans for Greenland.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also said the United States would like to buy the island, a proposal that has been firmly rejected by authorities in both Greenland and Denmark.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that any American takeover of Greenland would effectively bring NATO to an end.

Trump has additionally argued that without US control, Greenland could slip into Russian or Chinese hands — a claim Arctic experts have dismissed as lacking evidence.

While China describes itself as a “near-Arctic state”, analysts point out that Beijing’s expanding footprint in the region includes joint military exercises with Russia close to Canadian territory and near Alaska.

Canada’s defence policy, published in May 2024, flagged both Chinese and Russian ambitions in the Arctic, cautioning that Beijing’s strategic interests increasingly diverge from Canada’s on security and defence.

Since taking office, Carney has sought to reset ties with China while holding a firm line on Arctic sovereignty.

He said Canada has substantially strengthened its military presence in the Arctic, maintaining a year-round footprint “365 days a year on land, sea, and in the air.”

His remarks come as several European countries have deployed troops to Greenland in coordination with Denmark, citing concerns triggered by Trump’s comments.