Denmark's Prime Minister has issued a forceful plea to former US President Donald Trump to stop threatening to take over Greenland, following his renewed comments about acquiring the strategic Arctic territory.
A Firm Rejection from Copenhagen
In a statement released on Sunday 4 January 2026, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen categorically dismissed the notion of a US annexation. "It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the US needing to take over Greenland," she stated. Ms Frederiksen emphasised that the United States has no right to annex any part of the Danish Kingdom, which comprises Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands.
The Danish leader's intervention came directly after Mr Trump, in an interview with The Atlantic, reiterated his longstanding desire for the US to acquire Greenland. "We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence," he said, just one day after the US captured Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro.
Heightened Fears Following Venezuela Action
Mr Trump's latest remarks have sparked significant concern, given the context of recent US intervention in Venezuela. The statement that Washington would temporarily "run" Venezuela following Mr Maduro's detention has led to heightened fears that a similar scenario could be attempted in Greenland.
Greenland's own Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, has also condemned Mr Trump's comments, labelling them as "disrespectful". In his own statement, Mr Nielsen argued that linking Greenland to the situation in Venezuela and military intervention was not only incorrect but deeply offensive.
"I would therefore strongly urge the US 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," Prime Minister Frederiksen added, reinforcing Greenland's position.
Strategic and Economic Motivations
The US interest in Greenland is not new. Mr Trump has previously suggested buying the island, describing it as a large real estate deal. The motivations are twofold:
- Strategic Defence: Greenland's position in the Arctic makes it a key site for US ballistic missile defence systems.
- Mineral Wealth: The island possesses significant mineral resources, attractive to a US seeking to reduce reliance on Chinese exports.
Despite being a self-governing Danish territory, Greenland remains heavily dependent on subsidies from Copenhagen. However, a 2009 agreement grants it the right to declare full independence. In recent years, Denmark has worked to repair relations with Greenland while also increasing investment in Arctic defence, partly to ease tensions with the previous Trump administration.
This latest diplomatic exchange underscores the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Arctic region and the complex legacy of Trump-era foreign policy statements.
