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Danish PM puts on show of unity in Greenland after Trump acquisition threats Danish PM tells US ‘you cannot annex another country’ on visit to Greenland
(about 5 hours later)
Mette Frederiksen joins Greenland’s new and outgoing prime ministers, emphasising ‘cooperation, equality and security’ Mette Frederiksen, who met island’s new and outgoing PMs, says she wants to cooperate with Trump on Arctic security
The Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, has put on a show of unity with Greenlandic leaders in her first visit to the Arctic island since Donald Trump’s renewed threats to acquire the territory, saying that when Greenland is in a “difficult situation” so too are Denmark and Europe. The Danish prime minister has put on a show of unity with Greenlandic leaders in her first visit to the Arctic island since Donald Trump’s renewed threats to acquire the territory, telling the US: “You cannot annex another country.”
The Danish PM boarded an inspection ship on Thursday with Greenland’s new prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, after which they were due to hold a joint press conference expected to focus on unity and Arctic security. Speaking onboard an inspection ship in front of a military helicopter, alongside Greenland’s new prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and its outgoing prime minister, Múte B Egede, Mette Frederiksen switched from Danish to English to address the diplomatic standoff with the Trump administration.
Greenland’s outgoing prime minister, Múte B Egede, was also onboard. The three leaders were pictured looking out to sea and perched on a helicopter while onboard the ocean-patrol vessel HDMS Vædderen. “This is about the world order that we have built together across the Atlantic over generations,” she said. “You cannot annex another country – not even with an argument about international security.”
In contrast to last week’s visit by the US vice-president, JD Vance – which, after a diplomatic outcry, was limited to the US military base Pituffik and did not involve Greenlandic or Danish representatives – Frederiksen was greeted at the airport by Egede and went straight to the capital, Nuuk, where she met Nielsen. Her words came after a six-hour boat trip on the ocean-patrol vessel HDMS Vædderen with the two Greenlandic leaders during which they also viewed the area from above in a helicopter. “If you want to strengthen security in the Arctic, as we would like, let’s do it together,” she told the US.
On Wednesday, Frederiksen said: “When Greenland is in a difficult situation, the kingdom of Denmark and Europe are also in a difficult situation. Denmark and Greenland “want to cooperate with the United States”, she said. “If you want to be more present in Greenland, Greenland and Denmark are ready. If you want to strengthen security in the Arctic, as we would like, let’s do it together.”
“Regardless of what discussions we may have down the road about our commonwealth, it is clear that with the pressure from the Americans on Greenland in relation to sovereignty, borders and the future, we must stand together.” Accusing the US of subjecting Denmark and Greenland to “pressure and threats”, she said: “What should we believe about the country we have admired for many years?”
In a clear signal to Trump, who has repeatedly said he wants to gain control of the autonomous territory, which is part of the kingdom of Denmark, and has not ruled out military or economic force to do so, she said: “The USA will not take over Greenland. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the USA will not take over Greenland. And that is, of course, also the message that we will say collectively over the next few days.” Nielsen said: “Dialogue is of course the way forward, but it is also a great uncertainty that there is no dialogue now. That is why it is important to have dialogue that is based on respect.”
On social media she posted a picture of herself alongside the incoming and outgoing leaders, with the message: “Cooperation. Equality. Security.” Calling for unity, Greenland’s prime minister said: “Because of the things happening outside the country, we must stand together. Also within the realm, but also in our relationship with our allies.”
Egede said Greenland wanted to cooperate with the US on trade, but reasserted his previous comments, saying: “We are not for sale.”
Meanwhile, in Brussels, the US state department said Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, had reaffirmed the “strong relationship” between the US and Denmark during a meeting with Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the Danish foreign minister.
Afterwards, Rasmussen said that he had “used this opportunity to state some things on behalf of the Danish kingdom”. He added: “More specifically, that these repeated statements from the US president with a vision or ambition to control Greenland are in no way sustainable. It has reached a point where it actually challenges our sovereignty as a kingdom.”
In contrast to last week’s Greenland visit by the US vice-president, JD Vance – which, after a diplomatic outcry, was limited to the US military base Pituffik and did not involve Greenlandic or Danish representatives – Frederiksen was greeted at the airport by Egede and went straight to the capital, Nuuk, where she met Nielsen.
Frederiksen’s visit had initially been criticised by members of the governing coalition because the new government has not yet been officially approved. However, before her arrival, Nielsen said: “Denmark is our closest partner and it is natural we meet as soon as possible.”Frederiksen’s visit had initially been criticised by members of the governing coalition because the new government has not yet been officially approved. However, before her arrival, Nielsen said: “Denmark is our closest partner and it is natural we meet as soon as possible.”
The last time Frederiksen was in Greenland was in March 2024 on a joint visit with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.The last time Frederiksen was in Greenland was in March 2024 on a joint visit with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
As a former Danish colony, Greenland remains in the kingdom of Denmark, which continues to control the territory’s foreign and security policies.
Greenland’s long-running independence movement has been gaining momentum in recent months – momentum the Trump administration appears to be hoping to capitalise on – particularly after revelations over alleged mistreatment of Greenlanders by the Danish state.
But the threat of US intervention appears to have slowed down appetite in Greenland for a rapid move towards independence.
A general election last month resulted in the most US- and Trump-friendly party leaving coalition talks, after which the four other parties, led by Nielsen’s Democrats, signed a coalition agreement hours before Vance touched down in Greenland last Friday.
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As a former Danish colony, Greenland remains in the kingdom of Denmark, which continues to control the territory’s foreign and security policies.
Greenland’s long-running independence movement has been gaining momentum in recent months – momentum the Trump administration appears to be hoping to capitalise on – particularly after claims of alleged mistreatment of Greenlanders by the Danish state.
But the threat of US intervention appears to have slowed down appetite in Greenland for a rapid move towards independence. A general election last month resulted in the most US- and Trump-friendly party leaving coalition talks, after which the four other parties, led by Nielsen’s Democrats, signed a coalition agreement hours before Vance touched down in Greenland last Friday.
Page one of the agreement stated: “Greenland belongs to us.”Page one of the agreement stated: “Greenland belongs to us.”
Frederiksen’s visit takes place amid reports from the US that the White House is preparing an estimate of what it would cost the government to control Greenland as a territory.Frederiksen’s visit takes place amid reports from the US that the White House is preparing an estimate of what it would cost the government to control Greenland as a territory.
According to the Washington Post, the White House budget office is assessing the cost of running Greenland and working out an estimate of how much revenue could be earned from its natural resources.According to the Washington Post, the White House budget office is assessing the cost of running Greenland and working out an estimate of how much revenue could be earned from its natural resources.
Among the options on the table is to offer Greenland a higher figure in subsidies, approximately £500m a year, than Denmark currently does.Among the options on the table is to offer Greenland a higher figure in subsidies, approximately £500m a year, than Denmark currently does.
Speaking to US troops in Pituffik, Vance said the US had to gain control of Greenland to stop the threat of China and Russia, and claimed that Denmark had “not done a good job by the people of Greenland”.
In Washington, Trump claimed the US needed Greenland for “world peace”.
He said: “We need Greenland. Very importantly, for international security, we have to have Greenland.”