January 7, 2026 | 11:23 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has cautioned that any attempt by the United States to seize Greenland by military force would end NATO and dismantle the security system that has endured since World War II. The warning comes in response to renewed statements from U.S. President Donald Trump expressing interest in acquiring the Arctic territory.
According to Al Jazeera, Frederiksen made the remarks on Monday, January 5, after Trump once again broached the idea of placing Greenland under direct U.S. control. Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark and automatically part of NATO.
"If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops," Frederiksen told Denmark's TV2 television station. "That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War," she added.
Venezuela-U.S. Tensions
Danish concerns have heightened following U.S. military operations in Venezuela and the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. According to Euronews, the intervention has sparked new fears about the possibility of a similar move against Greenland, especially as Trump has not ruled out the use of military force.
Trump reaffirmed his stance last Sunday. "We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security and Denmark is not going to be able to do it," said Trump. He also stated, "Let's talk about Greenland in 20 days." According to Trump, the territory is teeming with Russian and Chinese ships and sits on the shortest route of the missile defense system between the U.S. and Russia.
Greenland holds a strategic position between Europe and North America, making it a crucial site for the U.S. ballistic missile defense system and rich in rare-earth minerals considered vital for reducing Washington's reliance on Chinese exports.
Greenland PM Speaks Out
Greenland's prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, vehemently rejected the notion of annexation. He deemed depictions of Greenland with the U.S. flag as disrespectful. "Relations between nations and peoples are built on mutual respect and international law – not on symbolic gestures that disregard our status and our rights," he stated.
However, Nielsen emphasized that there is no reason to panic. "Our country is not for sale, and our future is not decided by social media posts," he said. He also reassured the public by stating, "We are not in a situation where we think that there might be a takeover of the country overnight." According to Nielsen, Greenland remains open to dialogue.
Read: Greenland Welcomes European Solidarity Amid Trump's Threats
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