Greenland’s Head of Authorities Jens-Frederik Nielsen addresses a press convention in Nuuk, Greenland, on January 5, 2026. Any US assault on a NATO ally can be the tip of “all the pieces”, Denmark’s prime minister warned on January 5, 2026, after US President Donald Trump repeated his need to annex Greenland.
Oscar Scott Carl | Afp | Getty Pictures
Greenland’s prime minister on Monday sought to downplay the prospect of an imminent U.S. takeover try, following renewed curiosity within the mineral-rich Arctic island by President Donald Trump.
Talking at a information convention shortly after Trump’s navy operation in Venezuela over the weekend, Greenland’s Jens Frederik Nielsen dismissed considerations that one thing comparable might occur to the self-governing Danish territory.
“The state of affairs shouldn’t be such that the USA can merely conquer Greenland,” Greenland’s Nielsen mentioned Monday at a press convention.
“Our nation shouldn’t be actually the appropriate one to check with Venezuela,” he added, in response to a CNBC translation.
“We’re a rustic that’s democratic and has been democratic for a lot of, a few years. If we take a look at the entire image, we are able to perceive that some persons are involved,” Nielsen mentioned.
“We wish to create and re-establish the cooperation we’ve beforehand had with the USA, particularly the great cooperation we’ve had.”
European political leaders have rallied round Greenland and Denmark, which is liable for the protection of the self-governing island, since Trump repeated his ambitions within the wake of Washington’s intervention in Venezuela.
Talking to NBC Information on Monday night, Trump mentioned he was “very critical” along with his intent to accumulate Greenland however conceded he had “no timeline” for doing so.
The U.S. president, who has lengthy advocated for management over the island, mentioned on Sunday on Air Power One which “we want Greenland from the standpoint of nationwide safety.”
Denmark PM: U.S. takeover of Greenland would convey an finish to NATO
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, in the meantime, has warned that an American takeover of Greenland would quantity to the tip of the NATO navy alliance.
“I imagine that the U.S. president must be taken severely when he says that he desires Greenland,” Frederiksen advised Danish broadcaster TV2 on Monday, in response to a CNBC translation.
“However I additionally wish to make it clear, that if the USA chooses to assault one other NATO nation militarily, then all the pieces stops. That’s, together with our NATO and thus the safety that has been supplied because the finish of the Second World Struggle,” she added.
Conventional painted homes overlooking sea ice within the Outdated Nuuk district close to the Sermitsiaq mountain in Nuuk, Greenland, on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures
Copenhagen has sought to enhance ties with Greenland in current months, pledging to spice up spending on well being care and infrastructure, whereas additionally searching for to defuse tensions with the Trump administration by investing in Arctic protection, together with the acquisition of 16 further F-35 fighter jets.
Opinion polls have beforehand proven that Greenlanders overwhelmingly oppose U.S. management, whereas a big majority assist independence from Denmark.
