Mark Rutte

We know that the sea lanes are opening up.

We know that China and Russia are increasingly active in the Arctic.

There are eight countries bordering on the Arctic.

Seven are a member of NATO.

That's Finland and Sweden and Norway and Denmark.

Iceland, Canada, and the US, and there's only one country bordering on the Arctic outside NATO, and that's Russia.

And I would argue there is a ninth country, which is China, which is increasingly active in the Arctic region.

So President Trump and other leaders are right.

We have to do more there.

We have to protect the Arctic against Russian and Chinese influence.

And that's exactly what NATO ambassadors decided to do in September.

We are working on that, making sure that collectively we will defend the Arctic region.

Europe loves to discuss the future, but avoids taking action today.

Action that defines what kind of future we will have.

into those details at all.

We know that the Danes are completely open to having more American presence in Greenland and Greenland is open to that.

And I think it is good that these discussions take place with the three of them because at the end I cannot negotiate on behalf of anyone.

When it comes to Greenland specifically, their economy, their military situation, Russia and China will never get access.

We didn't go into those details at all.

We know that the Danes are completely open to having more American presence in Greenland, and Greenland is open to that.