NATO leadership publicly aligned with President Trump on the strategic importance of the Arctic. Mark Rutte highlighted Chinese and Russian activity and praised Trump’s pressure campaign that lifted NATO defense spending. Greenland remains central to U.S. security talks, with Trump insisting on diplomacy, not force.
NATO’s Rutte backs Trump on Arctic security, warning of China and Russia as sea lanes open. He credits Trump for forcing NATO to hit 2% defense spending and says Greenland matters for global security—force off the table. #ArcticSecurity #Greenland #Trump #NATO pic.twitter.com/B0JiTRjKzh
— Matthew Brady (@mattbrady775) January 21, 2026
- At the World Economic Forum in Davos, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Donald Trump is right to prioritize Arctic security.
- Rutte cited opening sea lanes and rising activity by China and Russia as strategic risks.
- Seven of the eight Arctic-bordering nations are NATO members; Russia is the only non-NATO Arctic state.
- Rutte credited Trump with pushing NATO members to meet the 2% of GDP defense spending target by 2025.
- Trump reiterated U.S. interest in Greenland for national and global security, while ruling out the use of force.
- Trump said Denmark committed over $200M to strengthen Greenland’s defenses in 2019, alleging limited follow-through.
