Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Denmark has issued a fresh five-word warning to Donald Trump and JD Vance as it refuses to buckle to US pressure over Greenland. Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen warned “you cannot annex another country” during her first visit to the autonomous territory since Trump’s fresh threats to take over the world’s largest island.
Speaking after a six-hour boat and helicopter trip alongside Greenland’s new prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and outgoing prime minister, Múte B Egede, Frederiksen addressed US demands. She warned: “You cannot annex another country – not even with an argument about international security.” She added: “This is about the world order that we have built together across the Atlantic over generations.”
The US was also accused by the political leader of subjecting Denmark and Greenland to “pressure and threats”.
She instead suggested cooperation: “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.”
Greenland’s new PM, Nielsen, added that dialogue is “of course the way forward,” but that there was a “great uncertainty” over the lack of it, and encouraged conversations “based on respect”.
He called for unity: “Because of the things happening outside the country, we must stand together. Also within the realm, but also in our relationship with our allies.”
Acting Prime Minister Egede reasserted that Greenland is “not for sale”, but said Greenland wanted to cooperate with the US on trade.
Frederiksen’s visit was initially criticised by members of the governing coalition because the new government has not yet been officially approved, however Nielsen said: “Denmark is our closest partner and it is natural we meet as soon as possible.”
This trip marked a stark contrast with the recent contentious visit by US vice-president JD Vance, ahead of which Denmark’s minister for foreign affairs said the politician would not be greeted by Danish officials at Pituffik because “it has nothing to do with us”.
Frederiksen was greeted at the airport by Egede and went straight to the island’s capital, Nuuk, where she met Nielsen.
During the boat trip on ocean-patrol vessel HDMS Vædderen, the trio also viewed the area from above in a helicopter.
The last time Frederiksen visited Greenland was in March 2024 alongside the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.