'We Stand Fully Behind...': Canadian PM Mark Carney Backs Greenland Amid Trump's Threats

Last Updated:January 17, 2026, 07:58 IST

Carney also revealed that he had discussed Greenland’s future with Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying their views were closely aligned on the issue of sovereignty.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney (IMAGE: Reuters)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday reaffirmed Ottawa’s full support for Greenland and Denmark, pushing back against repeated remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting Washington could take control of the Arctic territory.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Carney underlined Canada’s commitment to Denmark as a NATO ally and stressed that the alliance’s collective defence principles remain non-negotiable.

“We are NATO partners with Denmark. Our full partnership stands. Our obligations under Article 5 and Article 2 stand, and we stand fully behind those," he said, adding that Canada would continue to back both Denmark and NATO.

Carney also revealed that he had discussed Greenland’s future with Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying their views were closely aligned on the issue of sovereignty.

“I had discussions with President Xi about the situation in Greenland, about sovereignty in the Arctic, and about the sovereignty of the people of Greenland and Denmark. I found much alignment of views in that regard," he said.

Reiterating Canada’s position, Carney said Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, must have the right to decide its own future without external pressure.

Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States needs control of Greenland for national security reasons, at times suggesting the island could be taken over “whether they like it or not."

On Friday, he further escalated his rhetoric by saying Washington was considering tariffs on countries opposing his plans for Greenland.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also said the United States would like to purchase the island, a proposal firmly rejected by officials in both Greenland and Denmark.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that any American takeover would effectively spell the end of NATO.

Trump has also claimed that without US control, Greenland could fall under Russian or Chinese influence, an assertion dismissed by Arctic experts as unfounded.

While China refers to itself as a “near-Arctic state," analysts note that Beijing’s growing presence in the region includes joint military exercises with Russia near Canadian territory and around Alaska.

Canada’s defence policy, released in May 2024, flagged both Chinese and Russian ambitions in the Arctic, warning that Beijing’s strategic interests increasingly diverge from Canada’s on security and defence matters.

Since taking office, Carney has pursued a reset in relations with China while maintaining a firm stance on Arctic sovereignty.

The prime minister said Canada has significantly bolstered its military footprint in the Arctic, maintaining a year-round presence “365 days a year on land, sea, and in the air."

His comments come as several European countries have deployed troops to Greenland in coordination with Denmark, citing concerns sparked by Trump’s statements.

News world 'We Stand Fully Behind...': Canadian PM Mark Carney Backs Greenland Amid Trump's Threats

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