The U.S. embassy in Copenhagen announced on Thursday that there are no current intentions to expand the military presence in Greenland, following President-elect Donald Trump‘s renewed interest in acquiring the strategically significant Arctic territory. Trump, set to assume office on January 20, stated earlier this week that U.S. control over the island is an “absolute necessity” and did not dismiss the possibility of employing military or economic measures, including tariffs against Denmark, to achieve this goal.

Greenland, recognized as the largest island globally, has been under Danish control for centuries, although its 57,000 residents now manage their own internal affairs. A spokesperson confirmed to Reuters, “There are no plans to increase the United States’ current military footprint in Greenland. We will continue to collaborate closely with Copenhagen and Nuuk to ensure that any proposals align with our shared security interests.”

The U.S. military has a permanent installation at the Pituffik air base located in the northwestern part of Greenland. The island plays a vital role in the U.S. military’s ballistic missile early-warning system, as it serves as the shortest route between Europe and North America. Analyst Jens Wenzel from Nordic Defence Analysis remarked to Reuters, “I believe the Americans are quite concerned that Russia could potentially launch a significant attack against the United States, which could be initiated from the Russian side.”

There is currently a lack of effective oversight regarding airspace in Greenland, which has become somewhat of a free-for-all, he stated. Greenland benefits from U.S. security assurances through Denmark’s NATO membership. While the former colony enjoys a degree of self-governance within the Danish realm, matters of security and foreign policy remain under the purview of Copenhagen.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed this week that she could not envision the United States resorting to military action in Greenland, emphasizing that the decision ultimately lies with the Greenlandic people.

‘BALANCING ACT’

Frederiksen convened leaders from Denmark’s political parties for a briefing at 1830 GMT on Thursday regarding Trump’s renewed interest in the territory. She previously dismissed Trump’s 2019 proposal to purchase Greenland. On Wednesday, Frederiksen met with Greenland’s leader, Mute Egede, in Copenhagen. Egede advocates for his region’s independence and has asserted that it is not for sale.

Egede also engaged in discussions with the outgoing U.S. ambassador in Copenhagen on Wednesday, as reported by the embassy. Last month, Trump announced Ken Howery as the new U.S. envoy to Denmark. A co-founder of PayPal, Howery is associated with the “PayPal Mafia,” a group of former employees and executives from the digital finance company, which includes notable Trump supporters like Peter Thiel and Elon Musk.

“They’re navigating a delicate situation,” remarked Lin Alexandra Mortensgaard, a Greenland expert at the Danish Institute for International Studies, referring to the prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland. “It involves balancing the representation of an autonomous territory with that of a sovereign state while also considering the interests of Denmark’s closest ally,” she added.

Denmark’s European partners, France and Germany, have reacted to Trump’s statements by emphasizing the sanctity of national borders. On Thursday, British Foreign Minister David Lammy expressed his belief that Trump acknowledged Greenland as part of Denmark, suggesting that the U.S. president-elect’s comments were influenced by concerns regarding Russian and Chinese activities in the Arctic. The Kremlin stated on Thursday that it is closely monitoring the “dramatic developments” concerning Greenland, asserting that the Arctic is within Russia’s strategic national interests.

In Greenland, public opinion regarding the island’s future seems to be split, with some residents welcoming Trump’s comments while others express skepticism. Danish lawmakers from various political parties have called on Prime Minister Frederiksen, a member of the Social Democrats, to firmly reject any foreign attempts to challenge Greenland’s status. Former conservative minister Rasmus Jarlov remarked on X that the U.S. aims to assume Denmark’s role in Greenland, urging the Danish government to respond with a clear and unequivocal rejection.

In a lighter vein, Adam Price, the screenwriter of the popular Danish TV series “Borgen,” humorously noted on Instagram that it is becoming increasingly challenging to create political fiction as real-life politics grow more extreme. He added, “All that’s left is to get some popcorn.”