Denmark’s prime minister has issued a rare and direct rebuke to US President Donald Trump, telling him to “stop the threats” over repeated suggestions that the United States should take over Greenland.
Mette Frederiksen said it made “absolutely no sense” to speak about the need for Washington to annex the vast Arctic island, underlining that the US had no right to take territory from the Danish kingdom.
Her remarks followed renewed controversy sparked by a social media post from Katie Miller, the wife of Trump aide Stephen Miller, who shared a map of Greenland coloured like the American flag alongside the word “SOON”.
The post drew swift reactions in Copenhagen, where officials viewed it as another provocation in a long-running dispute over Trump’s interest in Greenland, which has flared up repeatedly since his first term in office.
In a statement published on the Danish government’s website, Frederiksen said she was addressing the United States “very directly” in order to remove any ambiguity about Denmark’s position.
She stressed that Denmark, “and thus Greenland,” is a member of Nato and is covered by the alliance’s collective security guarantee, a cornerstone of transatlantic defence cooperation.
Frederiksen also pointed out that Denmark already has a defence agreement with the United States that grants Washington significant access to Greenland, including military facilities vital to Arctic and North Atlantic security.
In recent years, Denmark has increased its investment in Arctic defence and surveillance, citing growing geopolitical competition in the region as global powers show renewed interest in the far north.
“I would therefore strongly urge the United States to stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people who have very clearly said that they are not for sale,” Frederiksen said.
Despite the warning, Trump doubled down on his remarks just hours later while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, reiterating his long-held view that Greenland is critical to US interests.
“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it,” Trump said, suggesting that American control would better protect the island and the wider region.
Trump has previously refused to rule out the use of force to secure control of Greenland, comments that have alarmed Danish officials and drawn criticism from European allies.
The US president has argued that Greenland’s strategic location between North America and Europe, along with its abundance of minerals essential for high-tech industries, makes it vital for US security.
Earlier, Denmark’s ambassador to Washington responded to Katie Miller’s post with what he described as a “friendly reminder” that Denmark and the United States are allies.
The ambassador said Copenhagen expected respect for Denmark’s territorial integrity, signalling unease about rhetoric that appears to challenge established international norms.
The diplomatic exchange comes at a sensitive moment, following a major US military operation against Venezuela over the weekend that saw President Nicolás Maduro and his wife captured and taken to New York.
Trump later claimed the United States would “run” Venezuela and said American oil companies would “start making money for the country,” remarks that have raised concerns about US interventionism.
Against that backdrop, Trump’s comments on Greenland have drawn renewed scrutiny from analysts who see a broader pattern in his foreign policy approach.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, has a population of around 57,000 and has enjoyed extensive self-government since 1979, although defence and foreign affairs remain under Danish control.
While many Greenlanders support the idea of eventual independence from Denmark, opinion polls consistently show overwhelming opposition to becoming part of the United States.
Greenlandic leaders have repeatedly said that the island’s future can only be decided by its own people, a position backed by Copenhagen.
As tensions simmer, Denmark has sought to balance firm opposition to annexation talk with efforts to maintain strong ties with Washington, emphasising shared security interests in the Arctic.
For now, Frederiksen’s message is clear: Greenland is not for sale, and Denmark expects its closest ally to respect that reality.