Italy’s Meloni rejects U.S. military scenario on Greenland and presses NATO for Arctic security
Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni said Friday she does not believe the United States would resort to military force to seize control of Greenland, urging a stronger NATO role in the Arctic region amid U.S. security concerns.
Speaking during a traditional New Year press conference in Rome, Meloni said the use of military action in Greenland would not be in anyone’s interest and would have serious consequences for NATO. She said she did not believe such a move was possible, and she also said Italy would not support it.
“I still don’t believe in the possibility of the U.S. initiating military action to take control of Greenland,” Meloni said, according to the Associated Press report. She added that the issue would inevitably carry implications for the alliance.
The comments came after the White House said the U.S. administration is weighing options that could include military action to take control of Greenland. The island is described as strategically located and mineral-rich, and as a semi-autonomous region that is part of NATO ally Denmark.
Meloni said the Trump administration, with what she described as assertive methods, is focusing attention on Greenland and the broader Arctic region for its security. She said she continues to believe the message from the U.S. is that it will not accept actions by foreign powers, describing the area as one in which many foreign actors operate.
She also argued that a reinforced NATO presence in the region could help smooth U.S. worries about rival actors gaining influence, including with hostile intentions. In her view, NATO’s role would be central to addressing concerns raised by Washington.
Meloni said it was “clear to everyone” that any U.S. military move on Greenland would have a significant impact on NATO. The Associated Press report also described Meloni as one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in Europe, with efforts to mediate between U.S. and European Union interests.
The report said Trump has floated since his first term the idea of purchasing Greenland from Denmark. It said Trump renewed calls for the U.S. to take over Greenland after last weekend’s U.S. military action in Venezuela, citing strategic reasons.
Leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain have defended Greenland’s sovereignty, along with Denmark, the report said. It added that Denmark’s right to the island was recognized by the U.S. government at the beginning of the 20th century.
Asked about Italy’s posture toward the United States, Meloni said international law must be fully defended, while also saying she did not understand the question about whether Italy must distance itself from Washington. “I think international law must be fully defended,” she said, and later added that she did not understand “what you’re asking when you say Italy must distance itself from the United States.”
Meloni said her foreign policy is based on two pillars: Europe and the Atlantic Alliance. She also said she does not always agree with everything her allies say, and that the interests of nations do not always “perfectly overlap.”