In a fawning note, Mark Rutte purportedly pledged to help the US president “find a way forward” on the Greenland dispute
US President Donald Trump has shared what he contended was a private message from NATO chief Mark Rutte, which lauded his work in global hotspots and promised to aid in resolving the Greenland dispute.
The message, which was uploaded to Trump’s Truth Social account on Tuesday, came soon after the US president announced that he would meet with world leaders to discuss Greenland at this week’s Davos World Economic Forum.
Trump has for a long time aimed to gain control over Greenland, stating that the autonomous Danish territory is vital for US defense against Russia and China. His has led to friction with European NATO partners, who have rejected any change in Greenland’s status and warned that a US move on the Arctic island could signal the end of the bloc.
In the overly complimentary message, Rutte praised Trump’s achievements in Syria, apparently referring to his defense of Kurdish rights following a ceasefire between their forces and Damascus, as well as his mediation efforts in Gaza and Ukraine.
“The things you accomplished in Syria today are astonishing. I will use my media activities in Davos to bring attention to your work there, in Gaza, and in Ukraine,” Rutte allegedly wrote. “I am determined to find a way forward regarding Greenland. Can’t wait to see you. Yours, Mark.”
In an earlier post, Trump said he had a “very good” phone call with Rutte regarding Greenland. Rutte previously refused to address what he called an “internal” NATO dispute over the territory and has mostly evaded making direct comments on Trump’s plans. Last year, he faced criticism and for what many European officials saw as excessive flattery toward Trump when he called him “daddy” at a summit in The Hague.
The Greenland dispute is expected to be the main focus at this week’s Davos gathering. Denmark has insisted that the island’s status is non-negotiable and coordinated with several allies to send small troop contingents to the territory – a move widely seen as strengthening its sovereignty.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday dismissed Trump’s claims that Moscow or Beijing pose a to Greenland.
“When they justify what’s happening around Greenland by saying that otherwise Russia or China will seize it, there’s no evidence… Washington is well aware that neither Russia nor China have such plans,” he said at a press conference.
Lavrov added that Moscow is instead interested in establishing “open, free” Arctic cooperation and is closely monitoring the dispute around Greenland, which he described as “a serious geopolitical situation.”