Greenland has firmly rejected renewed moves by the United States to annex the Arctic territory, with its Prime Minister declaring that his people would choose Denmark over the US if forced to decide.
Jens Frederik Nielsen made the statement during a joint press conference in Copenhagen with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, delivering the clearest response yet since US President Donald Trump revived his controversial proposal to bring Greenland under American control.
Trump has argued that the United States needs to own Greenland to strengthen its defence posture against Russia and China, citing the island’s strategic position in the Arctic. The White House has floated the idea of purchasing the territory and has not fully ruled out the use of force, a stance that has alarmed European allies.
Denmark, a founding member of NATO, has reacted sharply to the renewed rhetoric. Frederiksen warned that any military action against Greenland would severely damage the transatlantic alliance and undermine collective security arrangements that have held for decades.
Although Greenland is one of the least populated territories in the world, its location between North America and the Arctic gives it outsized strategic value. The island plays a key role in early warning systems against missile threats and in monitoring maritime movements across Arctic sea routes.
Trump has repeatedly claimed, without presenting evidence, that Greenland is central to US national security, alleging that the region is increasingly crowded with Russian and Chinese vessels. The United States already maintains a military presence at the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, where more than 100 US personnel are stationed under agreements dating back to World War II.
Existing defence arrangements with Denmark allow Washington to deploy additional troops to Greenland if it deems necessary. However, Trump has dismissed lease style agreements as inadequate, insisting that outright ownership is essential and that NATO allies must accept this position.
At the Copenhagen press briefing, Frederiksen openly criticised what she described as unacceptable pressure from a close ally, warning that tensions could intensify in the coming months. She stressed that Denmark would not compromise on sovereignty or the rights of Greenland’s people.
Nielsen acknowledged that Greenland is facing what he called a geopolitical crisis but left no ambiguity about his government’s stance. He said that if a choice had to be made between the United States and Denmark, Greenland would stand with Denmark.
Read also:
- Privacy Breach Verdict: Lagos Court awards Falana $25,000 damages against Meta over health misinformation
- US designates Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, as terrorist organisation|
- The Problem With N10 Million Tobacco Control Fund
He further stressed that Greenland does not want to be owned, governed or absorbed by the United States, underscoring the territory’s desire to determine its own future within the existing framework of autonomy.
The press conference came a day before Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenland’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Motzfeldt are scheduled to travel to Washington for talks with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Denmark’s NATO partners, including major European countries and Canada, have voiced support in recent days, reaffirming that decisions about Greenland’s status rest solely with Denmark and Greenland. They also emphasised that Arctic security should be pursued collectively with allies, including the United States, while respecting sovereignty and international law.
