COPENHAGEN, Denmark: Denmark, Britain and France have rejected comments by US President Donald Trump suggesting the United States should take control of Greenland, stressing that borders cannot be changed by force and that the island’s future lies solely with Greenlanders and the Kingdom of Denmark.
Trump has repeatedly said the United States “needs” Greenland for national security, remarks he reiterated in recent interviews and comments to reporters aboard Air Force One.
“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it,” Trump said when asked about the autonomous Danish territory.
“We’ll worry about Greenland in about two months… let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days,” he added.
In an interview with The Atlantic, Trump again described Greenland as strategically vital, saying it was “surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships”.
Asked what a recent US military operation in Venezuela meant for Greenland, he said it was for others to decide.
“They are going to have to view it themselves. I really don’t know,” he was quoted as saying. He added: “But we do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence.”
Greenland and Denmark respond
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen strongly rejected the remarks.
“That’s enough now,” he said in a Facebook post. “No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation.”
Nielsen said Greenland was open to dialogue, but only through proper channels.
“This must happen with respect for international law,” he said, adding that Greenland was not for sale and that its future could not be decided through social media or external pressure.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also urged Washington to stop what she called threats against a close ally.
“It is absolutely absurd to say that the United States should take control of Greenland,” she said, noting that Denmark — and Greenland — are NATO members covered by the alliance’s security guarantees.
France and UK back Denmark
France on Monday expressed its “solidarity” with Denmark and Greenland.
“Borders cannot be changed by force,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux told TF1 television.
“Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and to Denmark’s people. It is up to them to decide what they wish to do.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also voiced support for Denmark and Greenland. Asked about Frederiksen’s stance, he said: “I stand with her, and she’s right about the future of Greenland.”
“Yes,” Starmer replied when asked whether Trump should stop proposing US annexation of the island.
“Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark are to decide the future of Greenland, and only Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark.”
Trump’s comments have come amid heightened concern in Europe after an unprecedented US military operation in Venezuela, in which US forces captured President Nicolas Maduro.
The US President has said the United States will now “run” Venezuela indefinitely and tap its vast oil reserves.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the world should take note of the operation. “When he tells you that he’s going to do something, he means it,” Rubio said.
The operation has renewed fears in Europe about Trump’s willingness to use force, particularly after he refused to rule out military action in relation to Greenland.
Social media row
Tensions were further inflamed after Katie Miller, a former Trump aide and the wife of senior adviser Stephen Miller, posted an image of Greenland in US flag colours with the caption “Soon”.
Nielsen called the post “disrespectful”, saying relations between nations must be based on mutual respect and international law.
Denmark’s ambassador to the United States, Jesper Møller Sørensen, issued what he described as a “friendly reminder” that Denmark had significantly boosted Arctic security and worked closely with Washington.
