We choose Denmark over US, Greenland’s PM says
Greenland’s prime minister has said that if his people had to decide right now, they would pick Denmark over the United States.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen made the comment while standing alongside Denmark’s prime minister at a joint news conference, marking his strongest public statement yet since US President Donald Trump revived his push to annex the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Trump has argued that the US needs to “own” Greenland to protect itself from threats posed by Russia and China. The White House has floated the idea of buying the island and has also stopped short of ruling out the use of force to take control of it.
Denmark, a Nato ally, pushed back sharply. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that any move toward military force would undermine the trust at the heart of the trans-Atlantic defence alliance.
Asked later on Tuesday about Nielsen’s comments, President Donald Trump brushed them aside.
“That’s their issue. I don’t agree with him,” Trump said. “And that’s going to be a big problem for him.”
Greenland, despite being the world’s most sparsely populated territory, occupies a critical position between North America and the Arctic, giving it outsized strategic importance for security and surveillance in the region.
It is well suited for early-warning missile systems and for tracking ships moving through the region.
Trump has repeatedly described Greenland as essential to US national security, claiming — without presenting evidence — that Russian and Chinese vessels were operating there in large numbers.
The US already maintains a military presence on the island, with more than 100 personnel permanently stationed at the Pituffik base on Greenland’s north-western tip. The base has been run by the US since World War Two.
Under existing agreements with Denmark, Washington can deploy additional troops to Greenland if it chooses. But Trump has said that such arrangements are no longer enough.
Speaking to reporters in Washington last week, he said leasing the territory was insufficient and that the US “had to have ownership”, adding that Nato “had to understand that”.
Back in Copenhagen, Frederiksen did not soften her response. She condemned what she called “completely unacceptable pressure from our closest ally”.
She also warned that the situation could become even more difficult, saying there were “many indications that the most challenging part is still ahead”.
Nielsen described the moment as a “geopolitical crisis”, but left no ambiguity about Greenland’s stance.
“If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark,” he said.
He went further, stressing: “Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States. Greenland does not want to be governed by the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States.”
The Copenhagen news conference came a day before Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and Greenland’s foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, were due to travel to the US for talks with Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Denmark’s Nato allies — including major European nations and Canada — have publicly backed Copenhagen this week, reiterating that decisions about Greenland’s future rest solely with Denmark and Greenland.
While underlining their shared commitment to Arctic security with the US, they said it must be handled collectively by allies.
They also called for respect for the UN Charter, including the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders.
Anxiety about Greenland’s future intensified after Trump ordered military action in Venezuela over the weekend, resulting in the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro.
Trump had previously attempted to purchase Greenland in 2019 during his first term, an offer that was firmly rejected.
In recent years, interest in Greenland’s natural resources has grown. Rare earth minerals, uranium and iron are becoming more accessible as ice melts due to climate change, and scientists believe the island may also hold substantial oil and gas reserves.
FAQ’S
Q1. Why is Greenland suddenly at the center of US attention again?
Greenland has been on Washington’s radar for years, but President Trump has revived the issue by openly questioning whether the United States should own the territory. US officials argue Greenland’s Arctic location is critical as competition with Russia and China intensifies.
Q2. What exactly did Greenland’s prime minister say?
Jens-Frederik Nielsen made it clear that if Greenland were forced to choose “here and now,” it would stand with Denmark, not the United States. He also stressed that Greenland does not want to be owned, governed, or absorbed by any other country.
Q3. Can the United States legally take control of Greenland?
No. Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and any change in its status would require the consent of both Denmark and Greenland. International law strongly protects territorial sovereignty, something Denmark’s allies have emphasized this week.
Q4. Why does Denmark see Trump’s remarks as so serious?
Denmark views the statements as pressure from a close ally. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that even talking about force or ownership threatens trust within NATO and could damage the trans-Atlantic alliance.
Q5. Is the US already present in Greenland?
Yes. The US has maintained a military presence in Greenland since World War Two, including the Pituffik Space Base. Existing agreements allow the US to operate there, but Greenland’s leaders say that cooperation does not equal ownership.
Q6. What role do natural resources play in this dispute?
As climate change melts ice across Greenland, access to minerals such as rare earth elements, uranium, and iron is becoming easier. Scientists also believe the region may hold oil and gas reserves, increasing global interest in the island.
Also Read: "We Are Not for Sale”: Greenland Pushes Back as Trump Eyes the Territory"
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