German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos about the ongoing Greenland dispute and stressed the need for tighter transatlantic cooperation. He argued that the United States has recently pushed hard for a larger role in Greenland to counter security threats in the far north, a move that shows the U.S. takes Russian activity in the Arctic seriously.
Merz shifted the focus from the U.S. to Russia and China when discussing the danger to Greenland. He noted that hybrid attacks have already occurred in the Baltic Sea while Russia continues its winter war against Ukraine. European NATO members, he said, must do more to safeguard security in the polar regions. Germany will act within NATO and bolster its solidarity with European neighbours and partners-particularly Denmark and Greenland. The core principles of the transatlantic partnership-sovereignty and territorial integrity-will be defended.
Merz has discussed the necessity of closer cooperation in the far north with U.S. President Donald Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and other allies. These talks aim to establish tighter collaboration among NATO partners. He welcomed Trump’s recent announcement of an agreement concerning Greenland, warning that any attempt to seize European territory by force is unacceptable. Europe must respond to such threats in a united and decisive manner, and the transatlantic partnership remains a valuable asset that must be preserved.