President Donald Trump said the United States needs Greenland for national defense, prompting a sharp rejection from Denmark and renewed tension with a NATO ally.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump said the United States needs to acquire Greenland for national defense purposes, reigniting a long-running dispute with Denmark and drawing renewed objections from both Danish officials and Greenland’s leadership.
In an interview published Sunday, Trump said the strategic Arctic territory is essential to U.S. security, citing increased activity by Russia and China in surrounding waters. “We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense,” Trump said, adding that the island is “surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships.”
The remarks followed a Saturday news conference in which Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke after the U.S. apprehension of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Asked whether that action should be interpreted by other countries — including Greenland — as a signal that the administration might consider military measures to achieve its objectives, Trump declined to draw a direct comparison but did not rule out broader implications.
“They are going to have to view it themselves,” Trump said. “I really don’t know.”
Trump has repeatedly raised the prospect of annexing Greenland since before returning to office in January 2025, despite consistent opposition from Denmark and Greenland, which is an autonomous territory within the Danish realm. He has previously declined to rule out the use of military force, saying earlier this year that while he would not say he was going to do it, he would not rule out any options.
Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, issued a statement Sunday rejecting Trump’s comments and urging the United States to stop discussing annexation. “It makes absolutely no sense to talk about it being necessary for the United States to take over Greenland,” Frederiksen said. “The United States has no legal right to annex any of the three countries in the Realm of the Kingdom.”
Frederiksen emphasized that Denmark and Greenland are covered by NATO’s collective defense guarantee and noted that Denmark already maintains a defense agreement with the United States granting American forces broad access to Greenland. She called on Washington to end what she described as threats against a close ally and against a people who have clearly stated they are not for sale.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, is largely ice-covered but is known to contain significant oil, gas, and mineral resources. It is also home to the northernmost U.S. military base, a key component of American Arctic defense infrastructure.
Trump reiterated his interest in Greenland during a nationally televised speech in March, saying his administration was “working with everybody involved” to acquire the territory. “We need it really for international world security,” he said at the time, adding that he believed the United States would obtain it “one way or the other.”
Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede responded then by stating that Greenlanders alone would decide their future and made clear that they do not wish to become Americans, just as they do not seek to remain under Danish control indefinitely.
Trump has appointed Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as a special envoy on Greenland. In December, Landry said the United States was not going to “go in there trying to conquer anybody,” while also thanking Trump for the opportunity to serve in what he described as an effort to make Greenland part of the United States.
Diplomatic tensions also surfaced over the weekend following a social media post depicting Greenland overlaid with a U.S. map and the word “SOON.” Denmark’s ambassador to the United States, Jesper Moeller Soerensen, responded by stressing the importance of alliance unity and respect for sovereignty. “We are close allies and should continue to work together as such,” he said, adding that Denmark expects full respect for its territorial integrity.
The renewed exchange underscores the growing strain between Washington and Copenhagen as Trump continues to frame Greenland as a strategic necessity, while Denmark and Greenland firmly reject any discussion of annexation.
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