COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen made a striking statement on Monday, asserting that any American takeover of Greenland would effectively signify the dissolution of the NATO military alliance. Her remarks were a direct response to U.S. President Donald Trump's recent renewed interest in the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic island, particularly in light of the recent military operation in Venezuela.
The covert operation executed by U.S. forces in Caracas aimed at capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife early Saturday shocked the international community and raised alarms in Denmark and Greenland, which operates as a semiautonomous territory of the Danish kingdom and is, therefore, a member of NATO. Prime Minister Frederiksen, along with her Greenlandic counterpart Jens Frederik Nielsen, condemned Trump's comments, warning of potentially catastrophic repercussions. Many European leaders have rallied in solidarity with their stance.
Frederiksen emphasized the gravity of the situation during an interview with Danish broadcaster TV2. She stated, “If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops. That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War.”
The timeline of events has intensified fears over the U.S. intentions regarding Greenland. Trump has previously expressed interest in acquiring Greenland during his presidential transition and the early days of his second term, even suggesting that military action could be a possibility. His latest remarks, including a statement to reporters that “let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days,” further fueled anxieties about a potential U.S. intervention.
Frederiksen reiterated that Trump “should be taken seriously” regarding his aspirations for Greenland, stating, “We will not accept a situation where we and Greenland are threatened in this way.” Meanwhile, Nielsen addressed the issue in a news conference, emphasizing that Greenland cannot be likened to Venezuela. He urged his constituents to remain calm and united, asserting, “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.” He concluded, “The situation is not such that the United States can simply conquer Greenland.”
On Sunday, Trump also criticized Denmark’s attempts to bolster Greenland’s national security, jesting that the Danes had added “one more dog sled” to the Arctic territory’s defense capabilities. “It’s so strategic right now,” he remarked while en route back to Washington from Florida. He added, “Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” claiming that U.S. oversight was essential for national security and that Denmark would be unable to manage it.
However, Ulrik Pram Gad, a global security expert from the Danish Institute for International Studies, countered Trump’s assertions in a report last year, noting that while Russian and Chinese ships exist in the Arctic, they are too distant to be observed from Greenland, whether with or without binoculars.
The tension escalated further after a controversial social media post from Katie Miller, a former Trump administration official turned podcaster, which featured an illustrated map of Greenland in the colors of the Stars and Stripes with the caption: “SOON.” In response, Ambassador Jesper Møller Sørensen, Denmark’s chief envoy to Washington, emphasized the importance of respecting the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark.
The U.S. operates the remote Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, established under a defense agreement with Denmark in 1951. This base plays a crucial role in missile warning, missile defense, and space surveillance operations for both the U.S. and NATO. The long-standing partnership between the U.S. and Denmark extends to the mainland, where Denmark has recently purchased American F-35 fighter jets. Last year, Denmark’s parliament passed legislation permitting U.S. military bases on Danish soil, a move criticized by some as a concession of Danish sovereignty to the U.S.
This legislation expands upon a previous military agreement reached in 2023 with the Biden administration, allowing U.S. troops broader access to Danish air bases across the Scandinavian country. As tensions rise over the future of Greenland, the implications of U.S. actions on NATO and international relations remain a point of significant concern.