Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, has warned former United States President Donald Trump to stop what she described as threats against Greenland, insisting that the US has no right to take over the Arctic island.
Frederiksen spoke out after renewed comments and actions linked to Trump, including a social media post by Katie Miller, wife of Trump aide Stephen Miller, which showed a map of Greenland painted in the colours of the US flag with the word “SOON” written across it.
In a statement published on the Danish government’s website, Frederiksen said suggestions that the US should annex Greenland were unacceptable.
“It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the need for the United States to take over Greenland,” she said.
She added, “The US has no right to annex any of the three nations in the Danish kingdom.”
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, alongside Denmark and the Faroe Islands.
Frederiksen said she was speaking “very directly” to Washington, stressing that Denmark and Greenland are members of NATO and covered by the alliance’s collective security guarantee.
She also noted that Denmark already has a defence agreement with the United States that gives the US access to Greenland, and that Copenhagen has increased its security spending in the Arctic.
“I would therefore strongly urge the United States to stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people who have very clearly said that they are not for sale,” she said.
Despite the warning, Trump doubled down on his position a few hours later while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One.
“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it,” Trump said.
The Danish ambassador to the US also reacted to the online post linked to Trump’s circle, reminding Washington that Denmark and the United States are allies and calling for respect for Denmark’s territorial integrity.
Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of bringing Greenland under US control, arguing that its strategic Arctic location and rich mineral resources make it important for American security interests.
He has previously refused to rule out the use of force to secure control of the island.
The latest exchange comes just days after the US carried out a major military operation in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and flying them to New York. Trump later said the US would “run” Venezuela for now and allow American oil companies to operate there.
Greenland, with a population of about 57,000 people, has enjoyed extensive self-rule since 1979, although defence and foreign policy are still handled by Denmark.
While many Greenlanders support eventual independence from Denmark, opinion polls have consistently shown strong opposition to becoming part of the United States.
