COPENHAGEN, 20 January 2026 – In his first visit of the new year, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Pere Joan Pons (Spain) met today in Copenhagen with Søren Gade, Speaker of the Danish Parliament (Folketing), to discuss the heightened security concerns surrounding Greenland, as well as the broader implications for Arctic stability and transatlantic relations.
Both leaders underlined the fundamental importance of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, emphasizing the validity of international law including the UN Charter, and reaffirmed the democratic rights and self-determination of the people of Greenland. Maintaining unity on this issue, as well as developing dialogue between all stakeholders, was highlighted as essential.
Also participating in the meeting were OSCE PA Treasurer Johan Büser (Sweden), Head of the OSCE PA’s Danish Delegation Peter Juel-Jensen, Deputy Head of Delegation Søren Søndergaard, Secretary General Roberto Montella, and Deputy Secretary General Gustavo Pallares.
President Pons noted that Greenland sits at a crossroads of strategic interests and fundamental democratic principles, highlighting Arctic security issues as increasingly serious and requiring a multilateral response.
“In moments like these, parliamentary diplomacy has an essential role to play: keeping channels of communication open, reducing the risk of misunderstanding, and ensuring that respect for sovereignty, international law and the will of the people of Greenland remain the absolute foundation of how partners engage with one another,” Pons said. “The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly stands ready to support constructive, de-escalatory parliamentary dialogue whenever it can be helpful.”
“As Europe faces growing pressure, it is more vital than ever to reaffirm the values that underpin our societies – democracy, freedom, and respect for the international legal order, including respect for all countries’ territorial integrity and the right to self-determination,” said Speaker Gade.
During the meeting the two leaders also discussed Denmark’s very strong and continuous support for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, including by hosting the International Secretariat in Copenhagen. They agreed to further explore possibilities for high-level Danish participation in upcoming OSCE PA meetings and exchanged views on other key activities of the Assembly.
The meeting formed part of President Pons’s ongoing series of high-level consultations with OSCE PA participating States at a time of serious challenges to the rules-based international order and multilateral co-operation.
Also today, President Pons met at the International Secretariat with Treasurer Büser, Secretary General Montella, Deputy Secretary General Pallares, the PA’s financial team, and external auditors for discussions on the budget.
Tomorrow, President Pons travels to Vienna for a number of bilateral meetings and his regular address to the OSCE Permanent Council on Thursday.
