Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has urged United States President Donald Trump to stop threatening to take over Greenland.
Frederkisen said it made “absolutely no sense” for the U.S. to talk about taking over Greenland.
“The US has no right to annex any of the three countries in the Danish kingdom,” she said.
She also said in the event of a U.S. attack, Denmark would protect Greenland.
“I’ll also make it clear that if the US chooses to attack a NATO country militarily, then everything stops, including NATO & thus the security we’ve had since WW2 (world war two),” she said.
Fears of the U.S. taking over Greenland have been renewed following the U.S.’s bombardment of Venezuela and capture of its President, Nicolás Maduro.
Hours after Frederkisen’s remarks, Trump doubled down on his claim to take over Greenland.
“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it,” Trump told reporters said when asked about the issue.
Hours after the capture of the Venezuelan president, rightwing podcaster and wife of Donald Trump’s deputy chief of staff, Katie Miller, posted a map of Greenland draped in the U.S. flag with the caption “SOON”.
Premier of Greenland Jens Frederik Nielsen called the post “disrespectful” and said he was working on creating direct lines with the White House.
Greenland, the world's largest island with a population of 57,000 people, is not an independent member of NATO but is covered by Denmark's membership of the Western military alliance, of which the U.S. is also a member.
Some of Denmark’s European allies have also affirmed that Greenland’s future must be determined by its people.
"Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark must determine the future of Greenland and nobody else," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters.
German Foreign Minister, Johann Woadephul, reiterated that Greenland belongs to Denmark and that NATO could discuss strengthening its protection if necessary.
Denmark's ambassador to the U.S., Jesper Møller Sørensen, said the U.S. and Denmark were allies who should work together in response to Miller’s post.
“US security is also Greenland’s and Denmark’s security,” he said.
“The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic.”
He also said Denmark had increased defence spending in 2025, committing to £10.2 billion (A$13.7 billion).
