Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned Monday that any U.S. move to take control of Greenland could risk Denmark’s participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Her comments came after President Donald Trump reiterated his interest in Greenland, telling reporters Sunday he would “talk about Greenland in 20 days.”
The remarks followed a U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. The operation has drawn international scrutiny and raised concern in Copenhagen and Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
“If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops,” Frederiksen told Danish broadcaster TV2. “That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War.”
Frederiksen responded to growing unease in the region amid speculation Washington may seek military control over the Arctic island. Trump has not ruled out using force.
Last month, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a public supporter of U.S. annexation of Greenland, was appointed special envoy to the territory. On Saturday, Katie Miller, the wife of Trump’s deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, posted an image on X depicting Greenland in U.S. flag colors with the word “SOON.”
Greenland Premier Múte Bourup Egede responded on X, writing, “Relations between nations and peoples are built on mutual respect and international law – not on symbolic gestures that disregard our status and our rights.”
“However,” he added, “our country is not for sale, and our future is not decided by social media posts.”
Trump, citing Greenland’s geographic and strategic importance, said Sunday: “Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”
Greenland is home to a key site of the U.S. ballistic missile defense system, and its natural resources are of interest to Washington as it aims to reduce reliance on Chinese exports.
Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt Nielsen sought to calm public concern, stating at a Monday news conference, “We are not in a situation where we think that there might be a takeover of the country overnight, and that is why we are insisting that we want good cooperation.”
“The situation is not such that the United States can simply conquer Greenland,” she said.
European leaders have expressed support for Denmark. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Tuesday that Denmark could count on the solidarity of European nations.
“No member of [NATO] should attack or threaten another member,” Tusk said, “Otherwise, NATO would lose its meaning if conflict or mutual conflicts occurred within the alliance.”
On Monday, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “I stand with [the Danish prime minister], and she’s right about the future of Greenland.”
