We would rather choose Denmark than the US: Greenland Prime Minister

International Desk
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Friedrich Nielsen said that if his people were asked to choose between the United States and Denmark right now, they would choose Denmark.

The comments come at a time when US President Donald Trump has reiterated his plan to bring Greenland under the US.

Trump has claimed that the United States should “own” Greenland to protect itself from Russian and Chinese influence. The White House has offered to purchase Greenland, but has not ruled out the possibility of a forcible acquisition.

“Completely unacceptable pressure is being exerted from our closest ally,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told a press conference.

She warned that military intervention could have dire consequences for the trans-Atlantic defense alliance. Nielsen said Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States, does not want to be under the rule of the United States, and does not want to be part of the United States.

He noted that they face a “geopolitical crisis,” but stated unequivocally that if they had to choose between the United States and Denmark right now, they would choose Denmark.

Although Greenland is the least populated region in terms of population, its strategic location between North America and the Arctic is crucial, making it important for missile attack detection systems and for monitoring shipping in the region.

Trump has repeatedly said that Greenland is essential to US national security, and has claimed—without proof—that Greenland is “full of Russian and Chinese ships.”

The United States already has more than 100 military personnel permanently stationed at the Pitufik base on the northwestern tip of Greenland. The US can bring more troops to the base, which has been in operation since World War II, at will.

But Trump recently said that lease agreements alone are not enough, the United States must have “ownership” and NATO must understand that.

At the press conference, Frederiksen made it clear that the pressure from the United States was “completely unacceptable.”

He warned, “There are many signs that the most challenging part is still ahead of us.” The Greenlandic prime minister said that Greenland does not want to be ruled or owned by the United States.

The day after the press conference in Copenhagen, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenland Foreign Minister Vivian Motsfeldt will meet with US Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Denmark’s NATO allies—major European countries and Canada—stood by Denmark earlier in the week and said that only Denmark and Greenland can decide on their relationship.

They stressed that ensuring Arctic security requires concerted action by allies, including the United States. They called for maintaining sovereignty, territorial integrity and border protection in accordance with the UN Charter.

Concerns about Greenland’s future are growing, especially after Trump’s recent actions in Venezuela as an example of US military intervention.

Trump wanted to buy Greenland when he was first president in 2019, but it was not open for sale at the time.

Recently, the melting of the ice due to climate change has led to increased interest in Greenland’s natural resources, such as rare earth minerals, uranium, iron, oil and gas. Experts believe that it may contain significant oil and gas reserves.