Donald Trump has doubled down on his proposal to annex Greenland, prompting Denmark’s leadership to demand an end to "threats" against the territory. Speaking to reporters, the U.S. president defended the move, stating, "We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security."
Trump has repeatedly suggested the semi-autonomous Danish territory should become part of the U.S., pointing to its mineral wealth and strategic location for Arctic defense.
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, dismissed the idea as a "fantasy."
"That’s enough now," Nielsen said. "No more pressure. No more fantasies of annexation. We are open to dialogue, but this must happen through proper channels and with respect for international law."
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen echoed this sentiment, stating the U.S. has "no right" to annex any part of the Danish kingdom. She noted that Greenland is already covered by NATO security guarantees and that an existing defense agreement already grants the U.S. military access to the island.
The diplomatic spat escalated after Katie Miller, a social media personality and wife of Trump advisor Stephen Miller, posted an image of Greenland overlaid with the American flag and the caption "SOON." The Danish ambassador to the U.S. responded with a "friendly reminder" that the two nations are allies, calling for respect for Denmark's territorial integrity.
These tensions follow a weekend military operation in Venezuela, where U.S. forces seized President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Trump subsequently claimed the U.S. would "run" Venezuela and utilize its oil reserves. This shift in foreign policy has fueled international concerns that the U.S. might use force to secure Greenland—an option Trump has notably refused to rule out.
While Greenland’s 57,000 residents generally favor eventual independence from Denmark, polling shows overwhelming opposition to U.S. control.
International leaders have weighed in, with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer telling the BBC that only Denmark and Greenland can decide the territory’s fate. Meanwhile, the European Union rejected Trump’s claim that the EU "needs" the U.S. to take over the island. European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho confirmed no such discussions have taken place.
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