This combination of pictures shows leaders from Denmark, Greenland and Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, France and the UK. A group of European leaders on January 6, 2026 issued a joint statement to push back against US President Donald Trump's renewed interest in Greenland. Photo: VCG

European leaders on Tuesday issued a joint statement to push back against US President Donald Trump's renewed interest in Greenland, saying security in the Arctic must be achieved collectively. 

Chinese expert noted that US President's remarks about taking over Greenland have added insult to injury in an already deep rift between the US and Europe. The shift, the expert said, not only poses a more profound challenge to NATO's cohesion, but also risks accelerating a significant reversal in trans-Atlantic relations.

"The Kingdom of Denmark - including Greenland - is part of NATO," the statement said, according to a statement released by Denmark's Prime Minister's Office on X.

"Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively, in conjunction with NATO allies including the United States, by upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders. These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them," the statement continued.

"Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland," read the statement.

The statement was signed by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as well as the leaders of Italy, Spain, and Poland.

The coordinated message, which also described the US as "an essential partner" in the push for Arctic security, comes as US President Trump made fresh claim over Greenland.

The US president told NBC News on Monday that he was "very serious" with his intent to acquire Greenland. Trump also said he had "no timeline" for doing so, however.

Stephen Miller, a top aide to Trump, asserted on Monday that Greenland rightfully belonged to the US and that the Trump administration could seize the semiautonomous Danish territory if it wanted.

"Nobody's going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland," Mr. Miller told Jake Tapper, the CNN host, after being asked repeatedly whether he would rule out using military force.

"We live in a world, in the real world, Jake, that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power," he said. "These are the iron laws of the world since the beginning of time."

A Chinese analyst said Miller's remarks came across as if he were lecturing Europe. Whether in Europe or Latin America, countries now find themselves dealing with a US that relies on sheer power as the ultimate arbiter, and this version of the US is increasingly projecting a posture of dominance that borders on outright bullying, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.

Following the US' sudden raid on Venezuela, which triggered concerns from many countries, some defense-focused media reported that there has been a sudden surge of US aircraft to Europe, prompting speculation of future special operations in the region. The deployment comes amid the US' Venezuela takeover fueling fresh worry about a US taking over Greenland. 

The sudden increase of US aircraft to Europe included C-17 Globemaster III cargo jets, possibly packed with helicopters, emanating from the home of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), AC-130J Ghostrider gunships, and a shadowy special operations turboprop aircraft, defense news website The War Zone (TWZ) reported on Monday. 

"If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Danish broadcaster TV2 on Monday. "That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War."

Euro News also said on Monday that Washington's unprecedented operation in Venezuela resulting in the capture of Nicolas Maduro has reignited fears for Greenland.

US President's push to "acquire Greenland" has undoubtedly intensified what was already a strained relationship between the US and Europe, Li said, noting that at present, transatlantic relations can be described as being in a state of comprehensive crisis — with warning signals flashing across the board.

Li said more and more European countries are now beginning to realize that the greatest source of insecurity may come from within the NATO itself. This shift not only poses a deeper challenge to NATO's cohesion, but also risks accelerating a significant reversal in US-Europe relations.

The Financial Times, quoted an EU official as saying on Tuesday that: "We know who our allies no longer are. It's just we are still hoping we are wrong and the problem will go away," referring to Trump's disregard for the generation-old transatlantic alliance and the need for Europe to reduce its reliance on Washington. "We know what needs to be done, we just need to bloody do it."

On the issue of Greenland, China always believes that relations between countries should be handled in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, Lin Jian, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said during a press conference in March 2025.