Greenland Not for Sale: Denmark Rejects Trump’s Takeover Remarks, Warns US to Stop Threats

Denmark and Greenland have issued a strong and united response to renewed remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting that Washington needs to take control of Greenland, firmly stating that the Arctic territory is not for sale and warning the United States to stop making threatening and disrespectful statements.

The sharp reaction followed Trump’s recent interview with The Atlantic, where he once again linked Greenland’s strategic value to American defence interests. Referring to the island’s geographic position, Trump asserted that the United States “needs Greenland” for security purposes, reigniting a controversy that has surfaced repeatedly since his first term in office.

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected the remarks outright, stating that the idea of the US taking over Greenland was baseless and unacceptable. She emphasised that the United States has no legal or moral right to annex any part of the Danish Kingdom, which includes Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. Frederiksen urged Washington to reconsider its language, describing such statements as damaging to relations between historically close allies.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen also criticised Trump’s comments, saying they crossed a clear line. He said that linking Greenland to scenarios involving military intervention or comparisons with Venezuela was not only inaccurate but deeply disrespectful to the people of Greenland. Nielsen reiterated that Greenlanders have repeatedly made it clear they do not wish to become part of the United States.

Concerns in Copenhagen were further heightened by Trump’s recent foreign policy rhetoric, including statements made after the United States detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, during which Trump suggested Washington would run the country. Danish officials fear that similar security-based logic could be applied to Greenland.

Adding to the controversy, Trump last month appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenland. Landry has openly supported the idea of Greenland becoming part of the United States, a move that sparked unease among both Danish and Greenlandic leaders.

Meanwhile, economist Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University warned that recent US actions signal a broader erosion of international law. He argued that invoking national security concerns to justify territorial control sets a dangerous precedent and suggested Europe may not respond strongly if such actions were pursued. Sachs cautioned that the idea of occupying Greenland should not be dismissed as mere rhetoric, given Trump’s repeated public statements.

Greenland holds major strategic importance due to its location between Europe and North America, making it critical to the US ballistic missile defence system. The territory is also rich in rare earth minerals and natural resources, increasing its geopolitical value as Western nations seek to reduce dependence on Chinese supply chains.

Although Greenland was once a Danish colony, it gained self-rule and, under a 2009 agreement, retains the right to declare independence. However, it continues to rely heavily on annual financial support from Denmark. Both Denmark and Greenland have made it clear that any future decisions about the island’s status rest solely with its people—not foreign powers.