BRUSSELS: Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Thursday that NATO states backed having a “permanent presence” in the Arctic, including around Greenland, after US President Donald Trump claimed a framework deal was struck to satisfy his demands.
“We have asked NATO to be more present in the Arctic region,” Frederiksen said at the start of a European Union summit in Brussels.
“Everybody in NATO agrees about that, the Arctic states, but also other member states, that we need a permanent presence from NATO in the Arctic region, including around Greenland.”
Trump on Wednesday backed down from the threat of using force or tariffs to try to take over Greenland, after saying an agreement was reached in talks with NATO chief Mark Rutte.
Details remained scant of the accord — but Trump did not make any progress toward his goal of trying to gain control over the autonomous Arctic territory of fellow NATO member Denmark.
Frederiksen said discussions about Denmark’s sovereignty were off the table. “It cannot be changed,” she said.
NATO said following the talks that the alliance would ramp up security in the Arctic, after Trump used the perceived threat from Russia and China to justify his desire for Greenland.
A source familiar with the discussions said Denmark and the United States would also look to renegotiate a 1951 defense pact on Greenland that governs American troop deployments on the island.
“We said to the Americans a year ago that we can discuss our agreement on defense, but it has to be in the framework of us as a sovereign state,” Frederiksen said.
The Danish leader insisted the two sides “have to work together respectfully, without threatening each other.”
“I, of course, hope to find a political solution within the framework of democracy and how we cooperate as allies,” she said.
Danish PM backs NATO ‘permanent presence’ around Greenland
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Danish PM backs NATO ‘permanent presence’ around Greenland
- “We have asked NATO to be more present in the Arctic region,” Frederiksen said
- She said discussions about Denmark’s sovereignty were off the table
UK Police arrest 86 people at prison protest for Palestine Action hunger striker
- Demonstration outside Wormwood Scrubs held in support of Umer Khalid
- Khalid 1 of 5 people charged in connection with break-in at RAF base last year
LONDON: A protest outside a prison in the UK in support of a man detained for supporting the banned group Palestine Action has led to the arrest of 86 people.
London’s Metropolitan Police said a group of demonstrators breached the grounds of Wormwood Scrubs prison in the capital, refused to leave when ordered to do so, and threatened officers. They were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass.
The group, several of whom attempted to gain access to the prison itself, were protesting in support of Umer Khalid, who is currently on hunger strike at the facility.
Khalid is one of five people charged in relation to a break-in by Palestine Action members at an RAF base at Brize Norton last year, in which two military aircraft were damaged.
Khalid, who denies the charges, is one of several people who are on or who have taken part in hunger strikes in recent months, all of whom have been held on similar charges for over a year without their cases being brought to trial.
A spokesperson for the UK’s Ministry of Justice said: “The escalation of the protest at HMP Wormwood Scrubs is completely unacceptable. While we support the right to peacefully protest, reports of trespassing and threats being made to staff and police officers are deeply concerning.
“At no point was prison security compromised. However, where individuals’ actions cause risk or actual harm to hardworking staff, this will not be taken lightly and those responsible can expect to face consequences.
“Prisoners are being managed in line with longstanding policy. This includes regular checks by medical professionals, heart monitoring and blood tests, and support to help them eat and drink again. If deemed appropriate by healthcare teams, prisoners will be taken to hospital.”
