Denmark has sharply warned the United States to stop what it described as “threatening” rhetoric toward Greenland, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he “absolutely” needs the Arctic territory, reigniting fears of American expansionism just days after Washington’s military operation in Venezuela.
The diplomatic dispute escalated after Trump, speaking to The Atlantic, reiterated that Greenland is vital to U.S. national security, comments that came amid heightened international unease following the U.S. seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Washington’s declaration that it would temporarily “run” Venezuela and access its oil resources.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded forcefully, calling Trump’s remarks unacceptable.
“I have to say this very clearly to the United States: it is absolutely absurd to suggest that the U.S. should take control of Greenland,” Frederiksen said, urging Washington to stop “threatening its historical ally.”
Greenland in the Spotlight After Venezuela
The U.S. intervention in Venezuela has unsettled European allies, reviving long-standing concerns that Trump’s repeated interest in annexing Greenland could move beyond rhetoric. Trump has argued that Greenland’s strategic Arctic location and vast reserves of critical minerals make it essential for U.S. defense and technological security.
Asked whether the Venezuela operation set a precedent for Greenland, Trump offered an ambiguous response, saying others would “have to view it themselves,” while insisting:
“We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense.”
Social Media Sparks Diplomatic Backlash
Tensions were further inflamed after Katie Miller, wife of Trump’s deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, posted an image of Greenland colored like the U.S. flag on social media with the caption “SOON.”
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen condemned the post as “disrespectful,” stressing that Greenland’s future cannot be decided by symbolic gestures or online posts.
“Our country is not for sale,” Nielsen said, adding that relations between nations must be built on international law and mutual respect.
Allies Push Back
Denmark’s ambassador to the United States, Jesper Moeller Soerensen, also weighed in, demanding full respect for Denmark’s territorial integrity and reminding Washington that Copenhagen— a NATO member—has significantly increased its Arctic security cooperation with the U.S.
European officials have privately expressed alarm that Trump’s Greenland rhetoric, combined with the Venezuela intervention, signals a broader shift toward coercive geopolitics driven by resource access and strategic positioning.
Why Greenland Matters
Greenland sits at the heart of the Arctic, a region increasingly shaped by climate change, new shipping routes, military competition, and access to rare earth minerals critical for defense and high-tech industries. The U.S. already maintains military facilities there, but Trump has repeatedly argued that Danish control is insufficient to meet American security needs.
Analysis
Trump’s renewed push for Greenland comes at a moment when global trust in U.S. restraint is already under strain. For allies in Europe, the concern is not only territorial ambition, but the precedent it sets—particularly after the dramatic use of force in Venezuela.
While Denmark and Greenland have firmly rejected any notion of annexation, the episode underscores growing anxiety among U.S. partners about the future direction of American foreign policy and respect for international norms.
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