- PM Mette Frederiksen says a U.S. attack on Greenland would disrupt NATO security
- President Trump has repeatedly suggested Greenland could come under U.S. control, even hinting at military intervention
- Greenland Premier Jens Nielsen assured citizens that Greenland cannot be “conquered” and called for unity
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned on Monday that an American attempt to take over Greenland would effectively mean the end of NATO. Her remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump renewed calls for the Arctic island, rich in strategic resources, to come under U.S. control, following a weekend military operation in Venezuela.
The surprise U.S. operation in Caracas aimed at capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife sparked global concern. Denmark and Greenland—a semiautonomous territory within the Danish kingdom and part of NATO—were particularly alarmed.
Frederiksen, alongside Greenland’s Premier Jens Frederik Nielsen, strongly condemned Trump’s comments and warned of severe consequences. Speaking to Danish broadcaster TV2, Frederiksen said: “If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops. That includes NATO itself and the security it has provided since the end of World War II.”
Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in Greenland, including during his presidential transition and early in his second term. He has not ruled out military action to assert U.S. control, with his latest remarks on Sunday—“let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days”—heightening fears of a possible intervention.
Frederiksen stressed that Trump “should be taken seriously” when expressing interest in Greenland and emphasized that Denmark would not accept threats to itself or Greenland.
Nielsen reassured Greenlanders, stating that the territory is not comparable to Venezuela and urging calm and unity. “The situation is not such that the United States can simply conquer Greenland,” he said, emphasizing the desire for strong cooperation with Denmark and international partners.
Political commentators noted that Frederiksen’s rhetoric has grown more urgent. TV2 journalist Ask Rostrup observed that while she previously would have dismissed the idea of a U.S. takeover outright, the escalation in Trump’s statements has made the possibility something she must now acknowledge.
Trump also criticized Denmark’s recent efforts to bolster Greenland’s security, mocking them as adding “one more dog sled” to the island’s defenses. He argued that Greenland is strategically critical, citing the presence of Russian and Chinese ships in the Arctic. Security experts, however, have dismissed this as exaggerated, noting the foreign vessels are too distant to pose an immediate threat.
The situation was further inflamed by a social media post from former Trump administration official Katie Miller, depicting Greenland in American colors with the caption “SOON.” Denmark’s ambassador to Washington, Jesper Møller Sørensen, called for full respect for Denmark’s territorial integrity in response.
The U.S. already maintains a military presence in Greenland at the Pituffik Space Base in the northwest, established under a 1951 defense agreement. The base supports missile warning, defense, and space surveillance operations for both the U.S. and NATO.
On the Danish mainland, U.S.-Denmark military cooperation is longstanding, including the recent purchase of F-35 fighter jets and parliamentary approval for U.S. military bases on Danish soil. Critics argue these agreements have expanded U.S. access and influence, raising concerns about Danish sovereignty.
