“I don’t rule it out,” Trump told US broadcaster NBC in May when asked about using force to take Greenland. “I don’t say I’m going to do it, but I don’t rule out anything. No, not there. We need Greenland very badly.”
Katie Miller, an influential America First commentator who is married to White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, sharpened the focus on Greenland in a social media post on Sunday that called for US control of the territory.
Miller’s post showed a map of Greenland decorated in the American stars and stripes, with a caption saying: “Soon”.
While Greenland is seen as a potential source of rare earths and other commodities, the debate over its future is also being shaped by concerns about Russian naval power and the need for NATO dominance in the Arctic to counter potential threats. The island is a key location for US missile defence systems and surveillance.
Frederiksen, who has clashed with Trump in the past over his interest in Greenland, issued a statement within hours of his latest remarks being reported in the media.
“It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the need for the United States to take over Greenland. The United States has no right to annex one of the three countries in the commonwealth,” she said.
The Danish commonwealth consists of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
“The Kingdom of Denmark – and thus Greenland – is part of NATO and is therefore covered by the alliance’s security guarantee,” she said.
“We already have a defence agreement between the Kingdom and the United States today that gives the United States wide access to Greenland. And we, on the part of the Kingdom, have invested significantly in security in the Arctic.
“I would therefore strongly urge the United States to stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people who have very clearly said that they are not for sale.”
Greenland’s Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen also issued a formal rebuff to Trump.
“When the president of the United States says that ‘we need Greenland’ and links us to Venezuela and military intervention, it’s not just wrong. It’s disrespectful,” he said.
Stubb followed with a social media post backing Frederiksen.
“No one decides for Greenland and Denmark but Greenland and Denmark themselves. Our Nordic friend Denmark and [the Danish prime minister] have our full support,” he said on X.
Trump appointed a key ally, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, as a special envoy to Greenland last month, in a decision that provoked criticism from Denmark and Greenland over his intentions.
The appointment followed a visit to Greenland by US Vice President JD Vance in March, and media coverage about Trump supporters seeking to gain influence in Greenland. The territory, a former Danish colony, has a population of about 57,000 and a small parliament, the Inatsisartut, with 31 members.
