(Photo by Peter Foley for Reuters)
Greenland and Denmark fired back on Monday after President-elect Donald Trump declared that U.S. ownership of Greenland was an “absolute necessity” for national security and global freedom. The statement, which Trump posted on Truth Social on Sunday, sparked strong reactions from officials in both Greenland and Denmark.
“For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” Trump wrote, without elaborating on his reasoning. The comment coincided with his announcement of Ken Howery as his nominee for ambassador to Copenhagen.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede issued a swift and emphatic response. “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom,” he said in a statement reported by Reuters.
Denmark officials echoed Greenland’s defiance. Rasmus Jarlov, a member of Denmark’s parliament, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his alarm. “To the extent that U.S. activities aim to take control of Danish territory, it must be prohibited and countered. Then they can’t be there at all,” he wrote.
Greenland’s strategic importance has long been recognized, and Reuters noted its proximity to the U.S., being closer to New York than to Copenhagen. The island is rich in minerals, oil, and natural gas, and its location plays a critical role in the U.S. military’s ballistic missile early-warning system.
This isn’t the first time Trump has shown interest in Greenland. In 2019, he floated the idea of purchasing the island, a proposal Denmark and Greenland firmly rejected. At the time, Danish officials dismissed the notion as absurd, with then-Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen calling it “not for sale.”
Trump’s latest remarks have reignited concerns about his administration’s approach to international relations and territorial sovereignty. While his claims highlight Greenland’s strategic significance, the tone and framing of his statement have drawn criticism as both presumptuous and provocative.
As Trump prepares to take office, his comments have already strained relations with a key ally and raised questions about his geopolitical strategies. Greenland and Denmark’s swift rejection of his annexation rhetoric underscores their resolve to maintain sovereignty over the Arctic territory.
