Brussels: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has revealed that he engaged in discussions with US President Donald Trump regarding the growing tensions between the US and Europe over Greenland. Rutte made this announcement in a post on X on Sunday, highlighting the focus on security concerns in Greenland and the Arctic region.
According to Ghana News Agency, the conversation between Rutte and Trump centered on the security situation in Greenland, amidst Trump's insistence that the US should take control of the island for security purposes. This stance has been met with strong opposition from European NATO partners, who are against any US annexation of Greenland, which is a territory of Denmark.
In a move that has escalated tensions, Trump announced additional tariffs on eight European NATO countries early on Saturday as a response to their opposition to the US's intentions regarding Greenland. European leaders have condemned this action, warning Trump of potential negative impacts on diplomatic relations.
Rutte expressed his commitment to continuing discussions on the matter and mentioned his plans to meet President Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos later this week. The forum, which opens on Monday in the Swiss ski resort, will see Trump attending on Wednesday.