The prime minister of Greenland has warned residents to prepare for potential disruption, saying a U.S. military move against the Arctic island cannot be ruled out amid escalating tensions.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Greenland’s prime minister on Tuesday urged the island’s population and authorities to begin preparing for the possibility of a military crisis, warning that recent statements from Washington have made it impossible to dismiss the risk of armed action.
Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said at a press conference in Nuuk that while a conflict is not considered likely, it is no longer unthinkable. “It’s not likely there will be a military conflict, but it can’t be ruled out,” Nielsen said, according to Bloomberg.
Nielsen told Greenlanders they should begin preparing for potential disruptions to daily life. He said the government will establish a task force to coordinate responses to any crisis and will issue guidance recommending that households stockpile enough food to last at least five days.
“We cannot rule out anything when it is said on the other side that he would like to own and take over Greenland,” Nielsen said in remarks shared publicly, referring to recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States needs control of Greenland for national and global security and has escalated his messaging in recent days. Earlier Tuesday, he posted an AI-generated image on his Truth Social platform depicting himself planting a U.S. flag on Greenland, reinforcing his insistence that American ownership of the island is a strategic necessity.
Greenland, which has a population of about 57,000, is part of the Kingdom of Denmark but governs most domestic affairs independently. Defense and foreign policy remain under Copenhagen’s authority.
In response to rising tensions, Denmark has moved to bolster its military presence on the island. Nielsen said Denmark and seven other NATO countries recently deployed a small number of officers to Greenland under Operation Arctic Endurance, a mission intended to strengthen Arctic defense coordination.
According to Greenlandic media cited in Bloomberg’s reporting, Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command plans to expand the scope of the Arctic Endurance exercises, potentially extending them on a year-round basis.
The developments come amid broader unease in Europe over Trump’s Greenland campaign, which has been accompanied by tariff threats and sharp diplomatic exchanges. For Greenland’s leadership, Nielsen said, the priority is ensuring that the population is prepared for uncertainty while authorities assess how to protect essential services if the situation deteriorates.
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