Copenhagen fires back at Trump over Greenland 'threats'
Danish PM Mette Frederiksen tells Donald Trump to halt threats over Greenland as the Arctic island’s leaders assert self-determination.
Cold shoulder in the Arctic
Greenland’s morning quiet was broken Monday when Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told reporters she had "one clear message" for Donald Trump: "Stop the threats."
The blunt warning follows a weekend social-media post in which the former U.S. president claimed Greenland "is not for sale, but it will be" and hinted at "massive tariffs" against Denmark if Copenhagen blocks American influence over the semi-autonomous territory.
A history of unwanted offers
This is not the first time Trump has eyed the world’s largest island. In 2019 he confirmed reports he had discussed "buying" Greenland, prompting a diplomatic chill that saw the cancellation of a scheduled state visit to Copenhagen.
Greenland is rich in rare earths and holds strategic importance for Arctic shipping lanes opening due to climate change. Trump’s renewed interest comes as great-power rivalry intensifies in the region.
Greenland’s own voice
Greenlandic Premier Múte Egede, whose government controls most domestic affairs, reiterated that the island is "not for sale and never will be." Speaking to local broadcaster KNR, Egede said Greenlanders "will decide our own future—through democracy, not tweets."
What’s at stake
- Defense: Thule Air Base in northwest Greenland is America’s northernmost installation, key to missile-warning systems.
- Resources: Untapped deposits of neodymium and uranium sit beneath retreating ice sheets.
- Shipping: Melting sea ice is opening new trans-Arctic routes coveted by Russia and China.
Denmark’s balancing act
Frederiksen, under pressure at home to defend the realm’s integrity, stressed Denmark’s NATO commitments while rejecting economic coercion. Analysts say Copenhagen fears any sign of weakness could embolden other powers to test Arctic sovereignty.
What happens next
Danish diplomats have quietly reached out to EU partners, seeking a united front on Arctic policy. Meanwhile, Greenland’s parliament is drafting a new constitution that could move the territory closer to independence—complicating any future real-estate fantasies.
As snow clouds gathered over Nuuk on Monday evening, one thing was clear: the island’s fate will be decided by its 56,000 residents, not by distant capitals or late-night tweets.