Greenland’s Prime Minister said that if the people of Greenland were asked to make such a choice “here and now,” they would choose Denmark over the United States.
The remarks by Jens Frederik Nielsen at a joint press conference with Denmark’s prime minister were the strongest from a representative of the semi-autonomous Danish territory since US President Donald Trump updated plans to annex the semi-autonomous territory.
Trump said the United States needs to “own” Greenland to defend against Russia and China. The White House has suggested purchasing the island but has not ruled out using force to annex it.
Denmark is a member of NATO and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that military force would lead to the end of the transatlantic defense alliance.
Although Greenland is the most sparsely populated region, its location between North America and the Arctic makes it ideal for setting up an early warning system in the event of a missile attack and monitoring ships in the area.
Trump has repeatedly said Greenland is vital to U.S. national security and claimed without evidence that Greenland is “full of Russian and Chinese ships.”
The United States already has more than 100 military personnel permanently stationed at Pitufik Base on the northwest tip of Greenland, which has been operated by the United States since World War II.
Under an existing agreement with Denmark, the United States has the right to send as many troops as possible to Greenland.
But Trump told reporters in Washington last week that the lease agreement was not good enough – the United States “has to take ownership” and “NATO has to understand that.”
At a news conference in the Danish capital Copenhagen, Frederiksen did not mince words in denouncing “completely unacceptable pressure from our closest allies.”
“There are many signs that the most challenging part is ahead of us,” she warned.
Greenland’s Prime Minister says they “face a geopolitical crisis” but the island’s position is clear:
“If we had to choose between the United States and Denmark now, we would choose Denmark,” he said.
“One thing must be clear to everyone. Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States. Greenland does not want to be ruled by the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States.”
The Copenhagen news conference comes a day before Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lok Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt are due to travel to the United States to meet with Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Denmark’s NATO allies – major European countries as well as Canada – have expressed support this week, issuing a statement reiterating that “only Denmark and Greenland can take decisions on issues concerning their relationship”.
They emphasized that they shared the United States’ passion for Arctic security and said this must be achieved “together” with allies, including the United States.
They also called for “upholding the principles of the United Nations Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders.”
Concerns about the future of the region resurfaced after Trump on Saturday used force against Venezuela to capture President Nicolás Maduro.
Trump previously made an offer to buy the island in 2019 during his first term as president, but was told the island was not for sale.
Interest in Greenland’s natural resources has grown in recent years, including rare earth minerals, uranium and iron, which are becoming increasingly accessible as climate change melts snow and ice. Scientists believe it may also hold significant oil and natural gas reserves.