(January 22, 2026)
NATO chief Mark Rutte cannot negotiate on behalf of Denmark over Greenland, the Danish government said on Thursday, a day after US President Donald Trump announced a deal following talks between the two men.
Trump backed down on threats to seize Greenland by force after meeting Rutte on Wednesday, saying he had reached a „framework“ of a deal on the Danish autonomous territory.
Her comments follow what Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte have described as an agreed „framework deal“ on Greenland amid escalating White House threats over the territory. The announcement was made at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 21.
But days after that announcement, top Greenlandic and European officials are still unclear about what Trump and Rutte agreed to in Davos. Details about the deal have not been disclosed.
(January 24, 2026)
His desire for Greenland dominated much of his trip to Davos this week and, after a meeting with NATO Chief Mark Rutte, Trump announced there was a “framework” for a deal.
None of the base improvements, which USA TODAY reviewed via federal purchasing systems, appear to signal a significant increase in size or change in mission. The runway upgrades, for instance, include improvements to the landing and taxiway lighting systems, a critical component given the facility is in darkness for long stretches but depends heavily on resupply flights from the U.S. mainland.
But notes in the contracting materials also reference classified work that might be performed by the U.S. military or specialized contractors.