Denmark's prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, has told Donald Trump to stop threatening to take over Greenland, insisting the United States has no right to annex the territory. Her statement followed the US president's comment that America “absolutely” needs Greenland, as fears of a takeover resurfaced after the US military operation in Venezuela.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump doubled down, saying: “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.” Hours earlier, the rightwing podcaster Katie Miller, wife of Trump's deputy chief of staff, posted a map of Greenland draped in the US flag with the caption “SOON,” prompting outrage in Denmark and Greenland.
Greenland's prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, called the post “disrespectful” but said there was “no reason for panic.” He stressed that “our country is not for sale, and our future is not decided by social media posts.” Denmark's ambassador to the US, Jesper Møller Sørensen, responded with a reminder of defence ties, noting increased Danish defence spending and a commitment to joint security in the Arctic.
Trump recently named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenland; Landry has expressed support for the president's designs on the territory. Trump has refused to rule out military action to gain control of Greenland, and Denmark's defence intelligence service recently classified the US as a security risk. The long-standing alliance faces unprecedented strain as the Arctic becomes a focal point for geopolitical competition.
