Eight European nations have issued a joint statement of full solidarity with Denmark and Greenland, backing a Danish-led Arctic military exercise. The statement, released on January 18, expresses support for the Danish exercise 'Arctic Endurance' and a commitment to Arctic security as a NATO interest. It explicitly states the exercise poses no threat. The signatories are Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
This show of unity comes amid reported tensions with the United States over potential tariff threats related to Greenland. The statement frames the exercise and broader Arctic security as a core NATO interest, directly linking regional stability to the alliance's collective defense. For Denmark, which holds sovereignty over Greenland, such multilateral backing is a significant diplomatic reinforcement. It underscores a European consensus on maintaining a secure and cooperative Arctic, an area of growing strategic importance.
The move highlights how regional security policies in the Nordic sphere are increasingly intertwined with broader transatlantic dynamics. While the statement is a political declaration, it signals a coordinated European position intended to deter external economic or political pressure on Danish and Greenlandic interests. The focus remains on presenting a unified front and de-escalating potential disputes by reaffirming the purely defensive nature of allied activities in the region.