Greenland: Nato chief says talks to focus on keeping Russia, China out; remark after Trump eases threat

Talks with the United States on Greenland will focus on preventing Russia and China from gaining military or economic access to the Danish Arctic territory, Nato chief Mark Rutte said on Thursday.Rutte’s comments came a day after discussions with US President Donald Trump in Davos, after which Trump softened earlier threats to seize Greenland by force, saying a “framework” for a deal on the island had been reached.“It was a very good discussion,” Rutte was quoted as saying at an event on Ukraine held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum by news agency AFP.He said future negotiations would build on his meeting with Trump and would include efforts by Nato allies, particularly the alliance’s seven Arctic members, to ensure the region remains secure. One key objective, Rutte said, was to make sure “the Russians and the Chinese stay out” of the Arctic.Another priority would be preventing China and Russia from gaining access to Greenland’s economy or establishing a military presence there, he added.Last week, the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland held talks in Washington with US vice president JD Vance and secretary of state Marco Rubio.Trump’s earlier remarks on Greenland, an autonomous territory within Nato member Denmark, had strained transatlantic relations and triggered the most serious rift between Europe and Washington in decades.