Madrid

Spain on Tuesday (local time) reiterated its firm support for Denmark and the people of Greenland, stressing that respect for national sovereignty is essential for global peace, amid remarks from the United States about acquiring the Arctic territory.

Spain, along with several NATO allies, also issued a joint statement reaffirming support for Denmark and Greenland.

“Spain reiterates, together with Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom, its firm support for Denmark and the people of Greenland. Respect for the sovereignty of countries is essential for peace. That was the greatest lesson the 20th century left us. Let us not forget it,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a post on X.

España reitera, junto a Alemania, Francia, Italia, Polonia y Reino Unido, su firme apoyo a Dinamarca y al pueblo de Groenlandia.

El respeto a la soberanía de los países es esencial para la paz. Esa fue la mayor lección que nos legó el siglo XX. No la olvidemos.…

— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) January 6, 2026

The statement comes after the White House said it is considering “a range of options” to acquire Greenland, including the possible use of military force. According to CNN, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that acquiring Greenland is viewed as a national security priority by US President Donald Trump.

“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it's vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region,” Leavitt said during a weekly media briefing.

She added that the President and his team are discussing various options to pursue the goal, noting that the use of the US military remains an option at the Commander-in-Chief’s disposal.

Amid growing concern in Europe, leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom and Denmark issued a joint statement underlining the importance of collective security in the Arctic.

The leaders said Arctic security remains a key priority for Europe and is critical for international and transatlantic security, noting that NATO has clearly identified the Arctic as a priority region and that European allies have increased their presence, activities and investments to deter adversaries.

They stressed that Arctic security must be ensured collectively, in coordination with NATO allies, including the United States, while upholding the principles of the UN Charter such as sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders.

“The Kingdom of Denmark — including Greenland — is part of NATO,” the statement said, adding that Greenland belongs to its people and that decisions concerning the territory can only be taken by Denmark and Greenland.

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The statement further underlined that while the United States remains an essential NATO partner, cooperation must be based on mutual respect for international law and established agreements.