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IN a firm show of unity, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen issued a joint rebuttal to President Donald Trump’s proposals for the United States to take over Greenland, ahead of critical talks in Washington this week.
AP reported on Wednesday that the leaders underscored that Greenland is part of Denmark and, by extension, covered by the NATO alliance, warning that any attempt to secede or forcibly acquire the island would jeopardise transatlantic security.
“Dear Greenlanders, you should know that we stand together today, we will do so tomorrow, and we will continue to do so,” Frederiksen said during a joint press briefing in Copenhagen. Nielsen added,
“If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO. We choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We choose the EU.”
Tensions have intensified as Trump has repeatedly stated his intention to “take Greenland,” citing strategic concerns over Russia and China, and even suggested the use of military force if necessary.
When asked about Nielsen’s remarks, Trump dismissed the concerns, telling reporters, “I disagree with him. I don’t know who he is. I don’t know anything about him. But, that’s going to be a big problem for him.” He further insisted that Greenland must be acquired one way or another.
Greenlandic and Danish officials have clarified that while they are open to deepening U.S. military cooperation in the territory, the island is not for sale. Greenland’s minister for business and mineral resources, Naaja Nathanielsen, described the U.S. discussions as “unfathomable” and expressed widespread anxiety among residents.
“People are not sleeping, children are afraid, and it just fills everything these days. And we can’t really understand it,” she said.
The dispute coincides with broader Arctic security concerns. The U.S. maintains a small presence at the Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland, supporting missile warning and space surveillance operations for NATO.
Danish officials emphasised that the kingdom has remained a loyal U.S. ally, including providing support for recent U.S. naval operations in the Atlantic.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte declined to comment on the dispute, stating, “I never, ever comment when there are discussions within the alliance. My role has to be to make sure we solve issues,” stressing that Arctic security remains the alliance’s priority.
A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation is expected in Copenhagen later this week to reaffirm ties with Denmark.
Nathanielsen emphasised the importance of Greenlandic self-determination, saying, “My deepest dream or hope is that the people of Greenland will get a say no matter what. For others this might be a piece of land, but for us it’s home.” - January 14, 2026