BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said on Tuesday that an agreement between the United States and Europe to share responsibility for security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic could offer a path out of the growing standoff over Greenland, warning that the dispute is distracting from the war in Ukraine and benefiting Russia.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Nausėda urged Washington to lower tensions, arguing that the row over Greenland risks undermining unity among Western allies at a moment of heightened geopolitical pressure. He said the disagreement has begun to overshadow the conflict in Ukraine, weakening the focus on Europe’s eastern flank and complicating efforts to counter Moscow.
“The best outcome would be to agree on common responsibility for the security of the Arctic region and the North Atlantic region,” Nausėda said. “Is it possible to achieve? We should do our best to move in this direction, because this is the best way forward.”
His comments came as U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his determination to acquire Greenland, declaring there was “no going back” on his objective and declining to rule out the use of force. Trump’s stance has alarmed European allies, particularly Denmark, which holds sovereignty over Greenland and is a fellow member of NATO.
Trump’s ambition to bring the vast, resource-rich Arctic island under U.S. control has threatened to strain, if not fracture, the transatlantic alliance that has been the cornerstone of Western security for decades. European leaders have warned that any challenge to Denmark’s sovereignty would strike at the heart of NATO’s founding principles, including respect for territorial integrity.
Nausėda said European Union leaders are set to discuss their response at an emergency summit later this week, a meeting he believes will be a crucial test of whether Europe can present a united front. He added that the coming weeks would likely determine how the dispute ultimately unfolds.
He also expressed concern that divisions within Europe and across the Atlantic could weaken support for Ukraine, particularly among countries that have at times been sceptical about the scale or duration of assistance to Kyiv. According to Nausėda, Europe has reached a decisive moment in which the future credibility of NATO is at stake.
Trump is scheduled to address the Davos forum on Wednesday, and Nausėda said he hoped the U.S. president would use the opportunity to send signals aimed at easing tensions over Greenland. He stressed that while disagreements can be addressed through dialogue, respect for borders must remain non-negotiable.
“Territorial integrity is an untouchable principle,” Nausėda said, adding that there is always room for de-escalation if all parties are willing. “Europe is clearly ready to de-escalate. I hope the United States will be willing to do the same.”
The Lithuanian president warned that the Greenland dispute has already diverted attention and resources away from confronting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, creating additional risks for countries along NATO’s eastern frontier. Continued support from Washington, he said, remains essential as Europe works to strengthen its own defence capabilities.
At the same time, Nausėda acknowledged that Europe cannot transform its security posture overnight. While backing the goal of greater strategic autonomy, he cautioned that it would take years to turn ambition into reality.
“Europe needs time to implement this strategic autonomy not just on paper, but in practice,” he said. “We are talking about a timeframe of 10 to 15 years.”
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