NATO discussing next steps to ensure Arctic stays safe

NATO member countries are discussing the next steps to collectively keep the Arctic safe, alliance chief Mark Rutte said on Monday, the latest sign of work among allies to satisfy U.S. President Donald Trump, who says he wants to take over Greenland.



"All allies agree on the importance of the Arctic and Arctic security," Rutte told a press conference in Croatia. "With sea lanes opening up, there is a risk that the Russians and the Chinese will be more active."



Rutte said discussions on Arctic security were already under way since last year, and member countries were now "discussing the next step to that, how to make sure that we give practical follow up on those discussions."



Trump said on Friday that the U.S. needs to own Greenland to prevent Russia or China from occupying it in the future.