🌍 This week, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described talks with the United States on Greenland as tough. She warned that Washington's ambition to take over the icy island remains "intact," despite Denmark's firm rejection.
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, handling internal affairs while Copenhagen oversees defense and foreign policy. The United States maintains a military base on the island, and since returning to office in 2025, President Donald Trump has signaled interest in acquiring Greenland—even suggesting force cannot be ruled out.
In response, Denmark's Ministry of Defense and Greenland's autonomous government announced plans for a more permanent and larger NATO presence in the region. On Wednesday, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt met U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington.
Several European allies are joining the effort. France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway have confirmed limited deployments for a multinational reconnaissance mission in Greenland. President Emmanuel Macron even pledged extra land, air and maritime assets to support Arctic security. ❄️🚢✈️
Analysts say these moves are mostly symbolic—Europe lacks the capacity to confront the United States in a direct military showdown. But they send a clear signal: protecting Greenland is a shared NATO concern. "We'll keep working to prevent that takeover scenario," Frederiksen said, underlining the alliance's unity.
With climate change opening new Arctic routes and resources, Greenland's strategic value is skyrocketing. For Denmark and its partners, securing the island now could shape the balance of power in tomorrow's Arctic. 🌊🛡️
Reference(s):
Danish PM: Greenland dispute with U.S. persists after Washington talks
cgtn.com
