Finland concerned over US remarks on Greenland has become a growing diplomatic issue as Helsinki reacts to renewed statements from Washington suggesting possible control over the Arctic territory. Finnish officials say the situation is being monitored closely amid wider concerns about NATO unity, international law, and respect for sovereignty.
Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen confirmed on Thursday that the government fully supports Denmark and Greenland’s right to self-determination. Speaking after a parliamentary foreign affairs committee meeting in Helsinki, she said recent comments from US leaders cannot be dismissed, even though there is no current evidence of an impending military operation.
“There are no indications that the United States is preparing a military takeover of Greenland,” Valtonen told reporters. She added that Finland remains committed to international law and expects all partners to act within its boundaries.
The extraordinary committee session was convened to review multiple international developments, including rising tensions around Greenland, instability in Venezuela, damage to undersea cables in the Baltic Sea, and the ongoing security situation in Ukraine.
Diplomatic pressure intensified this week after US President Donald Trump reiterated his long-standing interest in purchasing Greenland from Denmark. The White House confirmed that the issue is under discussion within the US national security team. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that “all options are on the table,” while emphasizing that diplomacy remains the preferred path.
However, neither Leavitt nor US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ruled out military action if national security concerns were to escalate. Rubio is expected to meet with Danish and Greenlandic officials next week. Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt confirmed her participation to Danish broadcaster DR, alongside Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
European leaders responded swiftly. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, and the United Kingdom released a joint statement affirming Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland and rejecting any form of external pressure on the self-governing territory.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a sharp warning, stating that unilateral action by the United States could fundamentally damage NATO. She described the notion of one alliance member threatening another with force as unprecedented and deeply destabilizing.
Both the United States and Denmark are founding members of NATO. Greenland remains a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, despite its strategic location in the Arctic.
President Trump has defended his interest in Greenland by citing alleged Russian and Chinese activity in nearby waters. Danish authorities have publicly dismissed those claims, noting that no such threat assessments support the argument.
The United States already maintains a military footprint on the island through the Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland, a legacy installation dating back to the Cold War.
Concerns over Washington’s approach have deepened following a recent US military operation in Venezuela. During that operation, US forces captured President Nicolas Maduro, who now faces international charges related to drug trafficking and terrorism. The move drew criticism across Europe and raised fears of similar actions elsewhere.
Finland has not directly condemned the US operation in Venezuela. When pressed on the matter, Valtonen reiterated Finland’s adherence to the UN Charter and international legal principles.
“All foreign and security policy actions must respect international law,” she said, while stopping short of labeling the Venezuelan operation unlawful.
In contrast, Johannes Koskinen, Chair of Finland’s Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of the Social Democratic Party, stated that the US intervention violated international law. He called for clearer language and stronger responses when legal norms are breached.
Koskinen warned that threatening a fellow NATO member over territorial matters undermines the alliance at its core.
“Such actions must be addressed and condemned at all levels,” he said.
