EU–US Relations and the Greenland Crisis: Mitsotakis on Sovereignty, NATO, and Europe’s Strategic Autonomy

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ Press Conference upon the completion of the extraordinary European Council in Brussels (23 Jan 2026)

Κυριάκου Μητσοτάκη

Nadin Chardalia (SKAI): Good morning, Mr. Prime Minister. The tension surrounding Greenland has highlighted cracks in the relationship between Europe and the United States, but also cohesion in the European Union’s message regarding respect for sovereignty and international law. Are you leaving today’s Summit feeling more optimistic or more pessimistic?

And I would also like you to tell us whether there was consensus on how Europe should proceed from here on, or whether there were differences of opinion on how it should deal with such pressures.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: It is no secret that Euro-Atlantic relations have gone through periods of turmoil over the past year. Nevertheless, we all recognize that we must strive in good faith to maintain these relations at a functional level, without engaging in behavior that could lead to developments that cannot be corrected later on.

Certainly, in relation to the time when this Summit was convened, things are slightly better, insofar as President Trump clarified yesterday that he does not intend to impose additional tariffs on countries that openly supported Greenland and that he obviously does not intend to use military force to seize territory belonging to the Kingdom of Denmark.

Beyond that, however, it is also clear that fairness preserves friendship and that there must be a framework of understanding, where we are all aware of what the consequences may be if limits are exceeded.

I believe that the President of the European Council, in his statements, which he read to us and which I believe reflect the spirit of the meeting, sets out this framework very clearly.

Greece, as I have said many times, is a member state of the European Union, but it also has a strategic relationship with the United States. Therefore, we have every reason to always seek to ensure that any turmoil -and let’s not kid ourselves, there has been plenty of it- is temporary and to try to find solutions that are in everyone’s interest.

The protection of the Arctic, although Greece may be far from the Arctic, is a critical priority for NATO, for the security of Europe, and for the security of the United States.

We must therefore find a way to cooperate with the United States within the framework of NATO, so that we can prevent any influence from China or Russia in a region such as Greenland, which is of strategic importance for the overall security of NATO.

Maria Psara (STAR): Mr. Prime Minister, you said that Greece is a member of the European Union but also has a strategic partnership with the United States. How can it balance between two sides, or what role can our country play in bridging relations between the European Union and the United States?

And a second question: you submitted a compromise proposal concerning the US President’s Board of Peace. I would like to know whether this proposal was discussed and how it was received by the other countries.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: I believe I have already answered the first question. Greece is a member of the European Union, it is a country that is currently a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and it is bound by the framework of multilateralism and international law that has governed international relations for more than 70 years.

I believe that this framework is ultimately in the interests of the United States, and I will not tire of trying to convince my American interlocutors that any tension in Euro-Atlantic relations is detrimental to both Europe and the United States.

Beyond that, I think we have made it clear regarding the Board of Peace that, as it stands, not only Greece but almost all European countries find it difficult to participate.

Nevertheless, Greece played a leading role in Resolution 2803, which legitimized this Board and the leading role of President Trump and the United States, but only as a temporary administration of Gaza in order to implement the next stages of the peace plan, as agreed.

Greece is a country that has a direct interest in developments in the Middle East. We want to be present. We want Europe to be present.

And I believe that Ms. Kaja Kallas and many other countries found it quite interesting to explore, if not our open participation, because that may be difficult legally, but in some way taking European initiatives so that this Board of Peace can return to its original purpose.

And its initial purpose was, from the outset, to bring peace to Gaza and establish a transitional administration so that we could move on to a phase of reconstruction, but also as a first step towards a substantive resolution on the Palestinian question.

Sofia Fasoulaki (MEGA): Good morning, Mr. Prime Minister. We learned from the media about the meeting between NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Donald Trump, who then informed us about this framework agreement for Greenland. I would like to ask if you have learned more details about this plan today and if this plan also concerns the European Union and NATO. Are we involved in this and how?

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: No, we have not become wiser, but I think the red lines are very clear. There is no question of challenging Greenland’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and ultimately only Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark can decide on Greenland’s future.

The Prime Minister of Denmark was also categorical on this point, but I believe that all the members of the European Council quickly rallied behind this position.

I repeat: if the issue is the protection of the Arctic, the United States is rightly concerned about this matter. It is a major issue. Despite the fact that, as I said before, the Arctic Circle is very far away for us. However, it is a major issue of global security.

There are ways, both through NATO and through the existing bilateral agreement between the US and Denmark since 1951, to address this issue, but, as I said, within the framework of protecting and safeguarding the independence and territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland.

Dimitris Gatsios (ERT): Good morning, Mr. Prime Minister. There have been many hours of discussion, not only today, but also over the past days, about Greenland. I would like to ask you what lessons the European Union is drawing from the crisis in Greenland and how the Union can strengthen its cohesion without entering into a situation and environment of confrontation with the US.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: The need for Europe to invest in its strategic autonomy has now become common ground. I say this because I was one of the first to advocate this approach.

Significant steps have been taken since the issue was first raised at the Versailles Conference. Greece has always been at the forefront of this approach: “more defense cooperation, more resources for defense”. But strategic autonomy also involves strengthening European competitiveness. On February 12, we will have the opportunity to discuss this issue in particular.

The stronger we are, the more our opinion will count, and I believe that we must move from the strength of our values to the value of our strength. This is something that concerns our homeland, Greece, but it also concerns the European Union as a whole.

Maria Aroni (AΜNA): A supplementary question regarding the agreement that Donald Trump said he had reached with Mark Rutte on Greenland. My question is: were you informed, do you know whether Mark Rutte was authorized by any European leaders or whether he consulted with any European leaders before talking to Donald Trump in Davos?

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: He certainly did not consult me. But my impression is that there was no organized framework for consultation, certainly not at the European, institutional level.

I believe that ultimately NATO, as I said, has a role to play in the Arctic, but ultimately these discussions concern Denmark, the United States, and of course Denmark has the full support of the European Union in whatever it decides is in its own interest and in the interest of Greenland.

Thank you very much, good night.

2 Φεβρουάριος 2026

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