US President Donald Trump has once again suggested that the United States should take control of Greenland, prompting strong pushback from both Danish and Greenlandic leaders who urged him to abandon the idea.
Addressing reporters, Trump argued that Greenland was vital to American national security, repeating long-standing claims that the Arctic territory’s strategic location and natural resources make it essential to US defence interests.
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, firmly rejected the proposal, calling it unrealistic and urging Washington to end what he described as persistent pressure. He said Greenland remained open to dialogue but stressed that any discussions must respect international law and established diplomatic processes.
Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, also responded sharply, stating that the United States has no authority to annex any part of the Danish kingdom. She emphasised that Denmark, including Greenland, is a member of Nato and already covered by collective security guarantees, noting that a defence agreement allowing US access to Greenland is already in force.
Tensions escalated after Katie Miller, the wife of senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller, shared a social media post showing Greenland coloured with the US flag and captioned “SOON.” Denmark’s ambassador to Washington replied with a pointed reminder that the two countries are allies and that Denmark expects its territorial sovereignty to be respected.
The renewed dispute comes shortly after a controversial US operation involving Venezuela, in which President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were seized and taken to New York. Trump later claimed the US would effectively manage Venezuela and allow American oil companies to profit from its resources.
These developments have raised fresh concerns that the United States could consider using force to assert control over Greenland—an option Trump has previously declined to rule out. The territory is seen as strategically important due to its Arctic position and deposits of minerals critical to advanced technologies.
Denmark has already voiced anger over the Trump administration’s decision to appoint a special envoy to Greenland, viewing it as an overreach.
Greenland, home to about 57,000 people, has enjoyed broad self-rule since 1979, although Denmark still handles defence and foreign affairs. While many Greenlanders support eventual independence, surveys show strong opposition to becoming part of the United States.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC that decisions about Greenland’s future rest solely with Greenland and Denmark. Meanwhile, the European Union dismissed Trump’s claim that the bloc supports US control of the island, with EU officials stating they were unaware of any such discussions.
