Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned on Monday that a US takeover of Greenland would spell the end of NATO. This came in response to US President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring the strategically important and mineral-rich Arctic island, following a weekend military operation in Venezuela.
The surprise operation by US forces in Caracas to apprehend leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife early Saturday shocked the world and raised alarm in Denmark and Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory and part of NATO. Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart, Jens Frederik Nielsen, strongly criticised the president’s comments and warned of disastrous consequences, with many European leaders expressing solidarity.
« If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops, » Frederiksen told Danish broadcaster TV2 on Monday. « That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War. »
Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in US control over Greenland during his presidential transition and early second term, not ruling out the use of military force to gain control of the island.
His comments on Sunday, including telling reporters « let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days, » have further fuelled fears of an imminent US intervention in Greenland.
Frederiksen also stated that Trump « should be taken seriously » when he expresses his desire for Greenland. « We will not accept a situation where we and Greenland are threatened in this way, » she added.
During a press conference on Monday, Nielsen insisted that Greenland cannot be likened to Venezuela. He called on his constituents to remain calm and united.
« We are not in a situation where we think that there might be a takeover of the country overnight and that is why we are insisting that we want good cooperation, » he said.
Nielsen added: « The situation is not such that the United States can simply conquer Greenland. »
Ask Rostrup, a TV2 political journalist, noted on the station’s live blog on Monday that Mette would have previously dismissed outright the notion of an American takeover of Greenland. However, Rostrup observed, the rhetoric has intensified to such a degree that she must now acknowledge the possibility.
On Sunday, Trump also ridiculed Denmark’s attempts at strengthening Greenland’s national security capabilities, claiming the Danes have added « one more dog sled » to the Arctic territory’s defences. « It’s so strategic right now, » Trump told reporters on Sunday whilst flying back to Washington from his Florida residence.
« Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. »
He added: « We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it. »
However, Ulrik Pram Gad, a global security expert from the Danish Institute for International Studies, wrote in a report last year that « there are indeed Russian and Chinese ships in the Arctic, but these vessels are too far away to see from Greenland with or without binoculars. »
Both Greenlanders and Danes were further irritated this weekend by a social media post from Katie Miller, a former Trump administration official turned podcaster. The post featured an illustrated map of Greenland depicted in the colours of the American flag, accompanied by the caption: « SOON. »
Denmark’s Ambassador to Washington, Jesper Moller Sorensen, responded to Miller’s post, stating: « And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, » Miller is married to Stephen Miller, Trump’s influential deputy chief of staff. The U.S. Department of Defense operates the remote Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, which was established under a 1951 defence agreement between Denmark and the United States.
The base supports missile warning, missile defence and space surveillance operations for both the U.S. and NATO. The alliance between the U.S. and Denmark, rooted in the mainland of Denmark, has stood the test of time.
The Danes have purchased American F-35 fighter jets and just last year, the Danish parliament greenlit a bill permitting U.S. military bases on Danish territory. Critics argue that this vote surrendered Danish sovereignty to the U.S. This legislation expands upon a previous military pact, established in 2023 with the Biden administration, which granted U.S. troops extensive access to Danish air bases within the Scandinavian nation.
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