Finance
NATO's Rutte says Arctic talks with Trump will focus on keeping Russia, China out
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 22, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Quick Summary
NATO's Rutte and Trump discuss Arctic defense against Russia and China, emphasizing Greenland's strategic importance.
NATO's Rutte Discusses Arctic Security with Trump to Counter Russia and China
NATO's Strategy for Arctic Defense
DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 22 (Reuters) - NATO Secretary Mark Rutte said on Thursday that he and U.S. President Trump had discussed in Davos how the transatlantic alliance should best defend the Arctic against Russia and China.
Trump has repeatedly said he wanted to acquire Greenland, citing national security, though on Wednesday he ruled out using force and suggested a deal was in sight to end the dispute over the Danish overseas territory following talks with Rutte.
Trump's ambitions have put strain on the NATO alliance.
Discussion on Greenland's Importance
Rutte said he had a "very good discussion" with Trump on how NATO allies can work collectively to ensure Arctic security, including not just Greenland but the seven NATO nations with land in the Arctic.
Building on Recent Meetings
Further talks would build on the Washington meeting last week between the United States and delegations from Denmark and Greenland.
"One workstream coming out of yesterday ... is to make sure when it comes to Greenland, particularly, that we ensure that the Chinese and the Russians will not gain access to the Greenland economy (or) militarily to Greenland," Rutte told a panel at the World Economic Forum.
(Reporting by Benoit Van Overstraeten and Alessandro Parodi, editing by Richard Lough and Alex Richardson)
Key Takeaways
- •NATO's Rutte and Trump discuss Arctic security.
- •Focus on countering Russia and China's influence.
- •Greenland is central to Arctic defense strategy.
- •Talks build on recent US-Denmark-Greenland meetings.
- •Ensuring no military or economic access for rivals.
Frequently Asked Questions about NATO's Rutte says Arctic talks with Trump will focus on keeping Russia, China out
1What is NATO?
NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is a military alliance established in 1949 for mutual defense against aggression.
2What is Arctic security?
Arctic security refers to the protection of national interests and territorial integrity in the Arctic region, particularly against potential threats.
3What is foreign exchange?
Foreign exchange is the process of converting one currency into another, often for trade, investment, or tourism purposes.
