This aerial view reveals icebergs floating within the waters crushed down by the solar with buildings within the background off Nuuk, Greenland, on March 11, 2025, on the day of Greenland, the autonomous Danish territory, legislative elections.
Odd Andersen | Afp | Getty Pictures
Denmark is in “full disaster mode” after U.S. President Donald Trump as soon as once more set his sights on Greenland, following the strike on Venezuela.
“We’d like Greenland from the standpoint of nationwide safety and Denmark shouldn’t be going to have the ability to do it, I can inform you,” Trump mentioned Sunday on Air Pressure One, echoing related remarks made individually to The Atlantic journal.
His feedback come a day after the U.S. performed a significant navy operation in Venezuela, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores, in a shock intervention that despatched shockwaves throughout the globe.
It has raised alarm in Denmark, which is answerable for the protection of Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory.
“I’ve to say this very on to america: It makes completely no sense to speak concerning the want for america to take over Greenland,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen mentioned Sunday in a Fb submit.
U.S. President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (L) and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) (C) converse to the media aboard Air Pressure One enroute to Washington, DC on January 04, 2026.
Joe Raedle | Getty Pictures Information | Getty Pictures
“The Kingdom of Denmark – and thus Greenland – is a part of NATO and is due to this fact coated by the alliance’s safety assure. We have already got a protection settlement between the Kingdom and america immediately, which supplies america vast entry to Greenland,” Frederiksen mentioned.
“I might due to this fact strongly urge america to cease the threats in opposition to a traditionally shut ally and in opposition to one other nation and one other individuals who have mentioned very clearly that they aren’t on the market,” she added.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen mentioned on social media that Trump’s remarks had been “very impolite and disrespectful.”
‘The Greenland danger is underpriced’
Opinion polls have beforehand proven that Greenlanders overwhelmingly oppose U.S. management, whereas a powerful majority assist independence from Denmark.
Copenhagen has sought to enhance ties with Greenland in latest months, pledging to spice up spending for healthcare and infrastructure investments, whereas additionally searching for to defuse tensions with the Trump administration by investing in Arctic protection, together with the acquisition of 16 further F-35 fighter jets.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen attends a press convention on the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Jan. 28, 2025.
Nadja Wohlleben | Reuters
Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Europe at political danger consultancy Eurasia Group, mentioned the Danish authorities is in “full disaster mode” over Trump’s newest feedback, citing Frederiksen’s assertion over the weekend.
“As I’ve lengthy argued, the Greenland danger is underpriced,” Rahman mentioned Sunday in a LinkedIn submit.
“A attainable US intervention in Greenland is now the largest supply of danger to the transatlantic alliance and intra-NATO and intra-EU cohesion, arguably far higher than these offered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” Rahman mentioned.
The U.S. president, who has beforehand refused to rule out using navy or financial pressure to take Greenland, named Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry as particular envoy to Greenland final month.
The appointment was condemned by each Denmark and Greenland. Landry has publicly endorsed Trump’s push to carry Greenland underneath U.S. management.
Katie Miller, the spouse of high White Home aide Stephen Miller, posted to X a map of Greenland coated with an American flag with the caption “SOON,” shortly after Maduro was captured on Saturday.
