Denmark has delivered a firm warning to the United States over Greenland, following remarks by President Donald Trump suggesting he might pursue control over the mineral-rich Arctic territory.
Copenhagen made it clear that any attempt to take Greenland by force would undermine more than eight decades of NATO-backed transatlantic security ties.
The tensions come as Washington’s recent military actions in Venezuela have fueled concerns about Trump’s ambitions for Greenland, which is home to untapped rare earth deposits and strategic Arctic shipping routes as polar ice continues to melt.
Trump had previously stated, “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”
In response, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen directly told Trump to step back. Several European countries and the European Union also rushed to support Denmark, emphasizing that the U.S. must respect the sovereignty of its NATO ally.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reinforced the warning on TV2, saying, “If the US decides to militarily attack another NATO country, then everything would stop — that includes NATO and the post-World War II security structure.”
Greenland already hosts a U.S. military base and is strategically positioned on the shortest missile route between Russia and the United States. Despite this, Trump appeared to downplay Greenland’s immediate importance, joking that concerns would wait “about two months” while dealing with Venezuela.
Nielsen responded on social media, urging restraint: “That’s enough now. No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation. We are open to dialogue, but this must happen through the proper channels and with respect for international law.”
He added that cooperation should be restored calmly: “The situation is not such that the US can conquer Greenland. That is not the case. Therefore, we must not panic. We must restore the good cooperation we once had.”
European leaders quickly voiced support for Denmark. EU foreign policy spokesperson Anitta Hipper reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to defending its members’ territorial integrity. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that “only Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark” could decide the territory’s future — sentiments echoed by leaders in Finland, Sweden, and Norway. France emphasized that “borders cannot be changed by force” and expressed solidarity with Denmark.
The controversy escalated when former Trump aide Katie Miller posted an image of Greenland colored with the U.S. flag captioned “SOON,” which Danish officials labeled “disrespectful.”
On the streets of Copenhagen, ordinary citizens shared mixed feelings about the rhetoric. Frederik Olsen, 56, said, “I think it’s a little crazy that he can say those things.” Meanwhile, Christian Harpsoe, 46, added, “He has all the access he wants for the troops. You cannot compare this to Venezuela.”
Amid all the tensions, Greenland’s officials have emphasized diplomacy over panic, urging the U.S. to work through proper channels rather than escalating threats.
