Bilateral Agreement, Not Alliance-Wide
Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, said any security framework for Greenland negotiated by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte must be presented to all allies before moving forward. Speaking to Euronews at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Albares stressed that the arrangement announced with US President Donald Trump is a bilateral matter, 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,” Albares told Euronews. He added that foreign ministers across the alliance currently have only the public announcement for information and that any detailed discussion would be brought before NATO’s council.
Greenland’s Sovereignty Remains Key
President Trump’s announcement outlined a plan to expand US military presence in Greenland, potentially adding bases in the Arctic following weeks of diplomatic tension. Albares emphasized that only Greenland and Denmark can decide the territory’s future.
“The people have said very clearly that they want to remain part of Denmark,” he said. Danish authorities have consistently 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 European countries, including Denmark, France, and Germany, to pressure them toward a “sale” of the territory, citing national security concerns against China and Russia.
Europe Must Strengthen Its Own Defence
Albares criticized Washington’s approach as unacceptable and said the EU will not negotiate under coercion. He called on Europe to strengthen its own security and deterrence capabilities, suggesting a gradual move 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 own hands,” Albares told Euronews. He added that Europe should foster a coalition of willing states, integrate defence industries, and ultimately build a European army to protect its values and sovereignty (Euronews).
