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Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, has issued a stark warning that any attempt by the United States to seize control of Greenland would effectively bring an end to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Frederiksen made the remarks on Monday in response to renewed comments by former US President Donald Trump, who has once again floated the idea of Greenland coming under direct US control. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump said he would “talk about Greenland in 20 days,” reigniting tensions between Washington, Copenhagen, and Nuuk.
Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and, by extension, part of NATO. Any military action against it would therefore constitute an attack on a NATO member state.
“If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops,” Frederiksen said.
“That includes NATO itself and the security framework that has existed since the end of the Second World War,” she told Punch newspaper.
Rising Concerns in Denmark and Greenland
Trump has repeatedly refused to rule out the use of military force to gain control of the Arctic island, citing national security concerns and Greenland’s strategic importance. Last month, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry was reportedly named as a special envoy to the mineral-rich territory.
Tensions were further inflamed over the weekend after Katie Miller, wife of Trump’s deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, shared an image of Greenland rendered in the colours of the US flag on X (formerly Twitter), sparking backlash in Denmark and Greenland.
Responding to the post, Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Egede (represented in earlier remarks by Nielsen) stressed that Greenland’s sovereignty must be respected.
“Relations between nations and peoples are built on mutual respect and international law — not on symbolic gestures that disregard our status and our rights,” he said on X.
He added, however, that there was no immediate cause for alarm.
“There is neither reason for panic nor for concern. Our country is not for sale, and our future is not decided by social media posts.”
Strategic Importance of Greenland
Greenland occupies a critical position between Europe and North America, making it central to the US ballistic missile defence system. The island is also rich in rare earth minerals, which Washington views as strategically important in its efforts to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains.
Trump underscored these concerns on Sunday, claiming that foreign powers were already active in the region.
“Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” he said.
“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”
Calls for Calm and Cooperation
Greenlandic leaders have sought to calm fears among residents, insisting that the situation does not point to any imminent takeover.
“We are not in a situation where we believe there could be an overnight takeover of the country,” Nielsen said at a news conference on Monday.
“That is why we insist on cooperation and dialogue. The United States cannot simply conquer Greenland.”
