Canada backs Denmark, Greenland on Arctic future as US tariffs

Canada said the status of Greenland must be decided exclusively by Denmark and Greenland, pushing back against growing pressure from Washington over the Arctic territory. Speaking on Sunday, Prime Minister Mark Carney underlined Canada’s commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity, key principles he said should guide all Arctic-related discussions. The remarks come as the United States ramps up trade and security pressure across Europe.

Arctic security and NATO coordination

Carney said Ottawa is increasingly uneasy about the sharp rise in US-European friction linked to Greenland and the wider Arctic region. He argued that long-term stability in the High North depends on close coordination within NATO, calling the Arctic a critical zone for the alliance’s northern and western defence lines. Canada, he added, is stepping up its own Arctic posture through military reinforcement and new investments in strategic infrastructure.

Talks with China and regional alignment

The Canadian leader also confirmed that Arctic security featured in recent talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to China. According to Carney, both sides discussed the sovereignty of Canada, Denmark and Greenland, and he said he found “a strong alignment of views” on respecting existing borders and governance arrangements in the Arctic, a region increasingly shaped by great-power competition.

Diplomatic moves and US pressure

Foreign Minister Anita Anand echoed the prime minister’s position, describing state sovereignty as the backbone of the international legal system. She announced plans to formally open Canada’s consulate in Nuuk and to engage directly with officials in Greenland and Denmark. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has again insisted that Washington must control Greenland for national security reasons, rejecting Danish and Greenlandic objections. Trump has also announced phased tariffs on several European countries, a move European Union leaders called disruptive, as NATO members including Türkiye monitor the fallout for alliance unity and Arctic stability.