Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a direct statement on Sunday, 4 January 2026. She called on President Donald Trump to cease threatening Greenland. The demand came after Trump reaffirmed his interest in acquiring the Danish territory.
Frederiksen stated emphatically in her statement: “It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the need for the United States to take over Greenland.” She asserted that the United States possessed no legal authority over Danish territories. “The U.S. has no right to annex any of the three nations in the Danish kingdom,” Frederiksen declared.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen
Trump Escalates Greenland Rhetoric in Atlantic Interview
Trump reiterated his position in an interview with The Atlantic published on Sunday. The U.S. president said the nation required Greenland for defensive purposes. “We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence,” Trump stated. His comments followed a significant military operation in Venezuela on Saturday.
The U.S. military executed airstrikes in Venezuela’s capital on 3 January. American forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse during this operation. Trump announced that Washington would assume control of Venezuela in the immediate term. This military action heightened concerns in Copenhagen regarding potential American interventions elsewhere.
JUST IN: 🇺🇸🇬🇱 US President Trump says “we need Greenland.”
“If you take a look at Greenland, you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.” pic.twitter.com/2MaUOtZoMH
— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) January 4, 2026
Social Media Post Amplifies Tensions Between Nations
Katie Miller, wife of Trump’s deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, posted a provocative image on Saturday. The post displayed a map of Greenland adorned with the American flag. Miller captioned the image with a single word: “SOON.” The post intensified diplomatic friction between Washington and Copenhagen.
Denmark’s ambassador to the United States, Jesper Moeller Soerensen, responded swiftly on Sunday. He issued a pointed reminder to the Trump administration. “We expect respect for Denmark’s territorial integrity,” Soerensen stated. He emphasised that Denmark had “significantly increased its Arctic security initiatives.” The ambassador stressed continued alliance between the two nations.
SOON pic.twitter.com/XU6VmZxph3
— Katie Miller (@KatieMiller) January 3, 2026
Greenland’s Prime Minister Condemns Remarks as Disrespectful
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen also issued a statement on Sunday. Nielsen characterised Trump’s comments as deeply disrespectful. “When the President of the United States says that ‘we need Greenland’ and links us to Venezuela and military intervention, it’s not just wrong. It’s disrespectful,” Nielsen said.
Nielsen rejected what he termed “random and disrespectful posts on social media.” He emphasised that Greenland represented a sovereign people and nation. “Our country is not an object of superpower rhetoric. We are a people. A country. A democracy. This has to be respected,” Nielsen declared. The Greenlandic leader asserted that his nation maintained an open dialogue with foreign powers.
The Prime Minister of Greenland Jens-Frederik Nielsen to the United States:
“Enough is enough.” pic.twitter.com/Nxes65RxYp
— Anonymous (@YourAnonCentral) January 4, 2026
Strategic Importance Drives Trump’s Repeated Interest
Trump has consistently advocated for Greenland’s integration into the United States since his initial term. The U.S. president contends that Greenland’s Arctic location serves critical national security interests. The territory also possesses substantial reserves of minerals essential for advanced technology industries.
In December 2025, Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland. This appointment reignited controversy between the Trump administration and Danish officials. Landry publicly supported the annexation of Greenland as part of his mandate.
Denmark Emphasises NATO Membership and Existing Defence Agreements
Frederiksen highlighted Denmark’s NATO membership in her Sunday statement. She noted that both Denmark and Greenland received protection under NATO security guarantees. The Danish prime minister stressed an existing defence agreement with the United States. “The Kingdom of Denmark — including Greenland — is a member of NATO and is therefore protected by the alliance’s security assurances,” Frederiksen explained.
The Danish government underscored that current bilateral arrangements provided the United States with significant military access to Greenland. Denmark emphasised that this existing arrangement addressed American security concerns adequately.
Greenland’s Historical Status and Self-Governance Arrangement
Greenland has remained part of the Danish Kingdom since the early eighteenth century. The territory obtained home rule status in 1979 and expanded self-governance significantly. With a population of 57,000 residents, Greenland maintains substantial autonomy over domestic affairs. However, Denmark retained responsibility for defence and foreign policy matters.
History of Greenland
Public Opposition to American Annexation
Surveys conducted among Greenlandic residents reveal strong opposition to annexation. Although many Greenlanders support eventual independence from Denmark, they reject becoming part of the United States. This public sentiment contradicts Trump’s assertions about Greenlandic receptiveness to American integration.
Also Read: Venezuela’s Capital Caracas Experiences Overnight Bombing Following Trump’s Military Threats
International Response and Diplomatic Concerns
The Venezuelan military operation amplified European concerns regarding American territorial ambitions. Danish officials expressed alarm about potential military interventions under Trump’s administration. European allies questioned the implications of American military action in Latin America for their own security.
Frederiksen concluded her statement with a direct appeal to the Trump administration. She urged Washington to respect Denmark as a historically close ally. “I would therefore strongly urge the United States to stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people, who have very clearly said that they are not for sale,” the Danish prime minister stated.
