At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte urged "thoughtful diplomacy" to defuse tensions after President Trump renewed U.S. interest in Greenland. Rutte said he is working privately to resolve the issue and called for refocusing the debate on strengthening Arctic security within NATO. He dismissed suggestions the row could topple the alliance, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb also expressed confidence that a diplomatic "off‑ramp" can be found. The dispute has raised trade tensions as the EU weighed responses to Mr. Trump's tariff threats.
Rutte Urges 'Thoughtful Diplomacy' to Defuse Greenland Row as Trump Pushes U.S. Claims in Davos
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has been placed in an awkward spot by US President Donald Trump's push to take over Greenland from Denmark (Fabrice COFFRINI)(Fabrice COFFRINI/AFP/AFP)
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told the World Economic Forum in Davos that "thoughtful diplomacy" is the only realistic way to ease rising tensions over Greenland as U.S. President Donald Trump renewed American interest in the territory.
Speaking publicly but stressing behind-the-scenes work, Rutte sought to calm nerves and reframe the debate toward collective security concerns in the Arctic.
"I see that there are these tensions at the moment, there's no doubt. Again, I'm not going to comment on that, but I can assure you, the only way to deal with that is, in the end, thoughtful diplomacy," Rutte said. "You can be assured that I'm working on this issue behind the scenes, but I cannot do it in public."
Rutte — who met other NATO leaders and was scheduled to meet President Trump in Davos — tried to steer attention from the controversy over Greenland toward a broader NATO discussion on Arctic security.
Arctic Security and Alliance Unity
He urged NATO members to focus on defending northern approaches, saying that a secure Arctic and Atlantic are essential not only for Europe but for U.S. security as well.
"NATO is crucial, not only for the defence of Europe, but also for the defence of the United States," Rutte said. "For the United States to stay safe, you need a safe Arctic, a safe Atlantic and a safe Europe."
Rutte pushed back on suggestions that the controversy could unravel transatlantic ties. He expressed confidence that European allies would assist the United States if called upon — and that U.S. support for Europe would remain reciprocal.
Standing alongside Rutte in Davos, Finnish President Alexander Stubb expressed optimism that a diplomatic solution could be found. "You have two schools of thought here on Greenland. One is to de-escalate, and the other one is to escalate, to de-escalate. And I think at the end of the day, we'll find an off ramp," Stubb said.
The dispute has also taken on an economic dimension: President Trump suggested trade pressure against allies who resist U.S. positions, while the European Union reportedly considered possible countermeasures in response to threats of tariffs.
As discussions continue in Davos and behind closed doors, Rutte and other leaders emphasized diplomacy, Arctic defense cooperation, and preserving NATO unity as the most constructive paths forward.
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