Greenland has delivered a resounding rejection of any potential American takeover, with its Prime Minister declaring the autonomous territory would choose to remain under Danish sovereignty. The statement comes ahead of high-stakes talks at the White House concerning the future of the strategically vital Arctic island.
A Firm Rejection from Nuuk
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, left no room for ambiguity regarding Washington's longstanding interest in acquiring the island. "We are now facing a geopolitical crisis," Nielsen stated, adding, "if we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark."
He emphatically clarified the position of the Greenlandic people: "One thing must be clear to everyone: Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States. Greenland does not want to be governed by the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States." His comments directly address remarks from former President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly discussed buying or annexing Greenland and recently claimed the US would take it "one way or the other."
White House Talks Aim to Mend Fences
The diplomatic showdown is set to continue during a pivotal meeting at the White House. The Danish Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and Greenland's Foreign Minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, are scheduled to meet with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the island's future.
For both Copenhagen and Nuuk, the meeting's primary goal is to resolve significant "misunderstandings." These tensions were exacerbated in March when Vice President Vance made an uninvited visit to Greenland, criticising Denmark as a "bad ally" for its perceived lack of commitment to Arctic security. The accusation deeply offended Denmark, a steadfast trans-Atlantic partner that has contributed troops to US-led conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Strategic Stakes in the High North
The core of the dispute lies in Greenland's immense geopolitical value. The island's location places it on the shortest missile route between Russia and the United States, making it a crucial component of the US anti-missile shield. Washington has expressed concerns that Denmark is not doing enough to counter growing Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic region.
Denmark has robustly rejected these claims. The government points to a substantial investment of nearly 90 billion kroner (approximately $14 billion) to enhance its military footprint in the Arctic. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, standing alongside Nielsen, acknowledged the difficulty of confronting "completely unacceptable pressure from our closest ally" but warned that "the most challenging part is ahead of us."
She called for stronger cooperation with the US and NATO to bolster regional security, suggesting that NATO security guarantees would be "the best defence against Chinese or Russian threats in the Arctic." Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen confirmed plans for a "more permanent, larger presence in Greenland" involving Danish and allied forces.
As diplomats prepare for their White House encounter, the message from Greenland's capital is unequivocal. Residents in Nuuk have told international media the island is simply not for sale, setting the stage for a complex diplomatic dialogue where historical ties and future security interests will be fiercely debated.
