Danish PM Frederiksen declares the Ilulissat Declaration ‘dead’ amid rising Arctic tensions
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has formally acknowledged the end of the Ilulissat Declaration, a 2008 political pledge by Arctic coastal states to keep the region a zone of low tension and peaceful cooperation. Speaking in Nuuk just ahead of a state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, Frederiksen cited growing geopolitical instability as the reason for abandoning the principles laid out in the now-defunct agreement.
“The situation is serious,” Frederiksen said during a press appearance covered by Greenlandic broadcaster KNR. “There’s no doubt that tensions are increasing. We live in a more turbulent, more dangerous world. Therefore, we must be able to defend ourselves as a kingdom. That’s why we are significantly increasing our defenses across the board.”
The Prime Minister’s remarks follow recent military exercises by Denmark’s Arctic Command in Greenland and growing concerns over Russia’s reactivation of Cold War-era Arctic bases and establishment of new military infrastructure in the region. In December, the Danish Defence Intelligence Service (FE) concluded that the level of military activity in the Arctic had not been this high since the Cold War.
“The most dangerous situation we face right now is due to the threat from Russia toward Europe—including Greenland,” Frederiksen said. “Russia now sees itself in open conflict with the West.”
Originally signed in Ilulissat in 2008 by the five Arctic coastal states—Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia, and the United States—the declaration aimed to resolve Arctic disputes peacefully and under existing international frameworks, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). But observers and experts have increasingly questioned the declaration’s relevance as military activity accelerates in the region.
“I understand the original desire for low tension,” Frederiksen added. “There’s nothing I want more than peace. But it’s unavoidable that the world has changed.”
U.S. and French Dimensions
Frederiksen also acknowledged concerns about American rhetoric regarding Greenland, particularly past remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump referencing potential “annexation.” While she did not name Trump directly, she criticized the notion that Washington might not rule out the use of force in asserting claims in the Arctic.
“Discussions about using military power and annexing Greenland should never be taking place,” she said.
Frederiksen framed Macron’s visit as part of a broader strategy to strengthen European alliances in the face of pressure from both East and West.
“No country can do this alone. When we are under unacceptable pressure from the U.S., we—as a kingdom—depend on strong alliances with others. I’m pleased the French president is visiting because it reinforces European unity.”
Greenlandic Autonomy Question Resurfaces
The Prime Minister’s visit was not without controversy. Greenlandic politicians, particularly from the Naleraq party, criticized Frederiksen for not allowing Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen to independently welcome Macron—suggesting it undercut Greenland’s autonomy.
Frederiksen rejected that framing.
“Denmark does not own Greenland. We are a commonwealth. All three parts—Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Denmark—belong to the Kingdom of Denmark, but I never use the word ‘ownership,’” she said.
As tensions continue to rise across the Arctic, Frederiksen’s blunt acknowledgment that the Ilulissat Declaration is no longer operative may mark a turning point in how the region navigates defense, diplomacy, and sovereignty in the years ahead.
