Bilateral Deal, Not NATO-Wide
Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos that a security agreement for Greenland negotiated by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte with US President Donald Trump must still be presented to all NATO allies for review. Speaking to Euronews, Albares stressed that the arrangement is bilateral, not a NATO-wide decision.
“This is a bilateral arrangement, not NATO. It is the Secretary General of NATO talking to one of the allies,” he said. Albares added that allied foreign ministers currently only know what was publicly announced, and any details will eventually be discussed at NATO’s council (Euronews).
Greenland’s Sovereignty Remains Danish
The deal, announced by Trump, would allow the US to expand its military presence in Greenland and increase bases in the Arctic. Albares emphasized that only Denmark and Greenland can determine the territory’s future.
“The people have said very clearly that they want to remain part of Denmark,” he said. Danish authorities have repeatedly rejected any transfer of sovereignty, and polls show that most Greenlanders do not wish to come under US control. Earlier, Trump had threatened tariffs on several European nations to push a deal, citing strategic concerns about China and Russia in the Arctic (Euronews).
Europe Must Strengthen Defence
Albares criticized the US approach as unacceptable and called on the EU to defend its interests without yielding to coercion. He argued that Europe needs stronger security and deterrence, moving toward a unified European army.
“If we want to remain a land of peace where no one can impose war or use coercion—through force or trade—we need deterrence in our hands,” Albares told Euronews. He added that Europe should form a coalition of willing states, integrate defence industries, and ultimately establish a European army to safeguard peace and sovereignty (Euronews).
