Greenland should be prepared for ‘everything,’ prime minister says

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said late Tuesday that the island and its people should be prepared for “anything”; President Donald Trump said US military action should not be ignored as he remains determined to take control of the semi-autonomous Arctic island that is part of Denmark.

speaking at a press conferenceNielsen said the scenario was unlikely, but Greenland needed to be prepared as “the other side” did not rule out the use of military force, an apparent reference to the United States.

“The use of military force is unlikely, but it has not yet been ruled out. This leader from the other side has made it very clear that it is not ruled out. So of course we have to be prepared for anything,” he said, according to a Google translation of his remarks.

Nielsen said Greenland’s government is preparing an information campaign for its people, including guidelines on what individuals can do, including a recommendation to keep food in their homes for at least five days.

Greenland will also form an emergency response team consisting of municipal authorities, police and units of the Danish Joint Arctic Command.

“We need to emphasize that we are going through a difficult, difficult time, a stressful time, and we cannot rule out that this situation may escalate further.” [to something] worse,” Nielsen said.

Trump on Tuesday declined to detail what steps he would take to further his goal of seizing Greenland. “You’ll find out,” Trump said in response to the question of how far he would go to seize the Arctic island.

Danish armed forces released statements on Tuesday European and Danish military training in Greenland and said it was “strengthening its presence in Greenland and the North Atlantic.”

“The increased presence in Greenland is a consequence of the changing security policy situation of Denmark and NATO, which places new demands on the defense of the Arctic and North Atlantic.” armed forces said. The United States is part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Trump has downplayed the possibility of resistance from European leaders if he captures the island. “I don’t think they’re going to back down too much,” he said Tuesday in Florida. “We have to have him… They can’t protect him.”

On Saturday, Trump threatened eight European countries with tariffs starting at 10% on February 1 and rising to 25% on June 1 if a deal is not reached. Allowing the US to purchase Greenland

In response, European states are considering retaliatory tariffs and broader punitive economic countermeasures against the US