Sweden seeks to boost allied military presence in Greenland, Prime Minister says

Sweden aims to join allied efforts in Greenland and the Arctic as Trump backs off threats of tariffs and force, opening the door for a possible framework deal.

Reuters

January 22, 2026

Sweden seeks to boost allied military presence in Greenland, Prime Minister says

A 3D-printed miniature model of U.S. President Donald Trump and the Sweden flag appear in this illustration taken January 17, 2026.

Dado Ruvic/Reuters

Sweden wants to be part of increasing allied military presence in Greenland and the Arctic, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Thursday (January 22).

After weeks of threats, U.S. President Donald Trump stepped back from the threat of imposing tariffs on countries opposing his plans to seize Greenland and ruled out using force, suggesting instead that a framework deal over the Arctic island was in sight.

Trump's climbdown on using tariffs as a weapon to seize Greenland brought relief on Thursday, but left uncertainty on ending a stand-off that has risked the deepest rupture in transatlantic ties in decades.

After meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said there could be a deal that satisfies his desire for a missile‑defence system and access to critical minerals while blocking what he says were Russia and China’s ambitions in the Arctic.

Production : Tom Little/Reuters