Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to abandon comments suggesting the United States should take over Greenland, calling the idea baseless and unacceptable.
Speaking after an interview Trump gave to The Atlantic, Frederiksen said Washington had no right to annex Greenland, which is a self-governing territory within the Danish Kingdom.
“It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the U.S. needing to take over Greenland. The U.S. has no right to annex any of the three countries in the Danish Kingdom,” Frederiksen said in a statement on Sunday.
In the interview, Trump said: “We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence.”
The remarks came a day after the U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, raising concerns in Denmark that Washington could attempt a similar move involving Greenland.
Frederiksen urged the U.S. to halt what she described as threats against close allies.
“I would strongly urge the U.S. to stop these threats against a historically close ally and against another country and people who have clearly stated they are not for sale,” she said.
The office of Greenland’s Prime Minister did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside regular working hours.
Trump’s comments have renewed debate over Greenland’s strategic significance.
On 21 December, Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to the Arctic island, a move that drew criticism from both Denmark and Greenland.
Trump has previously suggested Greenland could become part of the U.S., a position publicly supported by Landry.
The Arctic island occupies a key strategic location between Europe and North America, making it important for the U.S. ballistic missile defence system.
It is also rich in minerals, which Washington sees as important to reducing dependence on Chinese imports.
The island, a former Danish colony, gained the right to declare independence under a 2009 agreement but remains heavily reliant on financial support from Denmark.
Over the past year, Denmark has sought to repair strained relations with Greenland while also easing tensions with the Trump administration through increased investment in Arctic defence.
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