Hold Your Fire! Norway’s FM Espen Barth Eide on Greenland, Iran, Trump’s Board of Peace and other crises
Jan 31, 2026
Espen Barth Eide, Norway's foreign minister and former defence minister and UN advisor, brings Arctic and diplomatic expertise. He discusses Greenland tensions and how Norway helped de-escalate them. He talks Arctic security realities, direct Russia-Ukraine talks and what credible guarantees might look like. He also covers Trump’s Board of Peace, Gaza governance, Iran risks and Venezuela’s raid.
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Davos Distracted By Greenland Drama
- Espen Barth Eide recounts Davos days dominated by Greenland talk that overshadowed other issues like Ukraine.
- He describes panels where half the time was spent on Greenland, showing its distracting impact.
Sovereignty Was The Red Line
- Norway and most NATO members made a clear stand: you cannot take land by force and sovereignty must be respected.
- Eide says Arctic security interest is welcome but must be handled within NATO or the Denmark-US defense pact.
Greenland Isn't The Main Russian Threat
- Eide distinguishes Arctic-wide security from Greenland's role, noting Russian forces and nuclear assets are near Norway's Kola Peninsula.
- He argues Greenland is not central to the immediate military threat posed by Russia.