Greenland PM brushes off US takeover fears after Trump renews interest
Greenlandic Head of Government Jens-Frederik Nielsen speaks at a press conference in Nuuk, Greenland, on January 5, 2026. On January 5, 2026, after US President Donald Trump reiterated his desire to annex Greenland, the Danish prime minister warned that any US attack on a NATO ally would be the end of “everything”.
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Greenland’s prime minister on Monday sought to downplay the possibility of an imminent US takeover attempt following President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in the mineral-rich Arctic island.
Speaking at a news conference shortly after Trump’s military operation in Venezuela at the weekend, Greenlander Jens Frederik Nielsen dismissed concerns that something similar could happen to the self-governing Danish territory.
“The situation is not one where the United States can easily conquer Greenland,” Greenlander Nielsen said at a press conference on Monday. he said.
“Our country is not the right country to compare with Venezuela,” he added, according to CNBC’s translation.
“We are a democratic country and have been democratic for many years. If we look at the whole picture, we can understand that some people are worried,” Nielsen said. he said.
“We want to create and reestablish the cooperation that we had with the United States before, especially the good cooperation that we had.”
European political leaders have rallied around Greenland and Denmark, which are responsible for defending the self-governing island, since Trump reiterated his ambitions following Washington’s intervention in Venezuela.
Speaking to NBC News on Monday evening, Trump said he was “very serious” about his intention to buy Greenland but acknowledged there was “no timeline” for doing so.
“We need Greenland for national security,” the US president, who has long defended control of the island, said on Air Force One on Sunday.
Danish Prime Minister: US capture of Greenland would mean the end of NATO
Meanwhile, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that an American takeover of Greenland would mean the end of the NATO military alliance.
“I believe that the president of the United States should be taken seriously when he says he wants Greenland,” Frederiksen told Danish broadcaster TV2 on Monday, according to CNBC’s translation. he said.
“But I also want to make it clear that if the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops. This includes our NATO and therefore the security that has been provided since the end of World War II.”
Traditional painted houses overlook the sea ice in the Old Nuuk area near Sermitsiaq mountain in Nuuk, Greenland, on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Copenhagen has sought to improve relations with Greenland in recent months. pledge Seeking to ease tensions with the Trump administration by increasing spending on health care and infrastructure, as well as investing in Arctic defense; to contain Purchase of 16 additional F-35 fighter jets.
Opinion polls previously showed that Greenlanders is overwhelmingly opposed It is under US control, while the vast majority support independence from Denmark.
