Danish leaders convene over Trump’s Greenland remarks
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has summoned party leaders to a crucial meeting on Thursday evening to address comments made by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump regarding Greenland, a source within the government confirmed.
Trump, set to take office on January 20, reignited concerns on Tuesday when he refused to rule out potential military intervention in Greenland and the Panama Canal, reiterating his desire for U.S. control over the two strategic regions.
The situation escalated following a private visit to Greenland by Donald Trump Jr., raising questions about U.S. intentions toward the Arctic island, which is an autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty.
“Meeting the party leaders allows us to share the measures the government has taken over the last few days,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told reporters.
The Prime Minister’s office confirmed that the meeting would take place at 7:30 pm (1830 GMT) on Thursday.
Rasmussen sought to downplay the immediate risk but acknowledged the potential gravity of the situation. “While I do not believe Denmark is in a foreign policy crisis, it doesn’t mean one couldn’t arise… if words turn to actions,” he said.
He added, “My own attitude is that you should take Trump very seriously but not necessarily literally. We take it so seriously that we are also working on it.”
Trump has previously expressed interest in purchasing Greenland, first raising the idea during his presidency in 2019—a proposal that was swiftly dismissed by both Greenlandic and Danish authorities.
Greenland, known for its rich reserves of minerals and oil—though oil and uranium exploration are currently prohibited—also holds significant strategic importance in the Arctic and is home to a U.S. military base.
The Greenlandic government issued a statement on Wednesday affirming its autonomy: “Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland. Greenland’s development and future are decided solely by its people.”
Despite the assertive stance, Greenland emphasized its ongoing partnership with the U.S. “Greenland has had more than 80 years of defense cooperation with the U.S. for the benefit of the security of Greenland, the U.S., and the rest of the Western world,” the statement read.
