Denmark has issued a strong warning to the United States after US President Donald Trump once again expressed interest in annexing Greenland, the mineral-rich Arctic territory under Danish sovereignty. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen cautioned that any attempt by Washington to seize Greenland by force would destroy the 80-year transatlantic security alliance and destabilise the post–World War II security order.
Trump’s renewed remarks came amid heightened geopolitical tension following Washington’s recent military intervention in Venezuela, which has triggered concerns that the US may pursue similar aggressive strategies elsewhere. Greenland, known for its vast reserves of rare earth minerals and increasing strategic importance due to melting polar ice and emerging shipping routes, has long been on Washington’s radar.
“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it,” Trump said on Sunday.
Responding firmly, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen urged Trump to “back off,” insisting that the territory would not tolerate any annexation ambitions. Several European nations and the European Union swiftly expressed solidarity with Denmark, urging the US to stop issuing threats against a NATO ally.
In Copenhagen, Frederiksen told TV2:
“If the United States decides to militarily attack another NATO country, then everything would stop — that includes NATO, and therefore post–World War II security.”
Greenland holds major strategic value, sitting along the shortest missile route between Russia and the United States, and already hosts a US military base. Trump suggested that he would “worry about Greenland” soon, hinting the matter may escalate.
Nielsen, however, called for calm while also demanding respect.
“That’s enough now. No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation,” he said on social media, stressing that dialogue must follow proper diplomatic channels and international law.
Despite rising anxiety, Nielsen reassured Greenlanders that the US cannot simply “conquer” the territory and urged efforts to restore previously strong cooperation.
China Angle And Global Reactions
Trump has also claimed rising Chinese and Russian activity around Greenland, statements Beijing dismissed as “false threats” driven by US self-interest. Greenlandic politician Aaja Chemnitz accused Trump of spreading misinformation and urged Greenlanders to take the situation seriously.
Across Denmark, citizens reacted with disbelief and concern, many calling Trump’s statements “crazy” and unnecessary given existing US military access.
Meanwhile, European leaders — including from the UK, Finland, Sweden, Norway and France — backed Denmark, asserting that borders cannot be changed by force and only Denmark and Greenland can decide Greenland’s future.
The controversy intensified after former Trump aide Katie Miller posted a graphic of Greenland in US flag colours captioned “SOON”, a move Nielsen called “deeply disrespectful.”
Denmark’s ambassador to Washington, Jesper Moeller Soerensen, meanwhile emphasised that Denmark remains a close ally of the US and prefers cooperation over confrontation, especially in Arctic security.