Peace president – or is he an imperialist? After Venezuela, Donald Trump is again targeting Greenland.Image: keystone
Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland have clearly rejected a territorial claim to Greenland again expressed by US President Donald Trump.
Jan 5, 2026, 4:16 amJan 5, 2026, 4:16 am
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the United States had “absolutely no right” to annex part of the Danish community. She called on the US to “stop threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people that have clearly said they are not for sale.”
Mette Frederiksen rejects Trump threats.Image: EPA POOL
Trump was not deterred by this. During a flight to Washington a little later on Sunday evening (local time), he again told journalists that “we need Greenland with a view to national security.” The island is of great strategic importance, but is currently surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships. “Denmark won’t be able to do it, I can tell you that,” Trump said. Trump claimed that it was also clear to the European Union that the USA should “have” Greenland.
Trump then specifically made fun of NATO partner Denmark: “Do you know what Denmark did recently? To increase security in Greenland, they added a dog sled. It’s true. They thought it was a great reinforcement.” Trump has often threatened to annex Greenland to the USA. He also did not rule out military means.
Scandinavian states are supporting Denmark
The heads of government of Sweden and Norway as well as Finland’s president publicly supported Frederiksen’s statement. Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store wrote on the X platform: “Greenland is an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Norway stands in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark.” Sweden’s Ulf Kristersson said: “Only Denmark and Greenland have the right to decide on matters that concern Denmark and Greenland.” He added: “Sweden is fully behind its neighboring country.”
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, who is said to have a special connection to the US President, wrote: “Nobody decides for Greenland and Denmark except Greenland and Denmark themselves.”
Controversial post after the US military operation in Venezuela
Denmark, its Scandinavian neighbors and the USA are all NATO allies. The latest diplomatic tensions initially appeared to have been triggered by a social media post following the US military operation in Venezuela. In a post on X by ex-government advisor and influencer Katie Miller, a map of Greenland was shown in the colors of the US flag. She wrote a single word in capital letters: “SOON”. Katie Miller still has close ties to the White House through her husband, Trump’s deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.
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Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen had previously tried to smooth things over. “Let me first say very calmly and clearly that there is no reason to panic or be alarmed,” he wrote on Facebook. “Our country is not for sale and our future will not be decided by posts on social media.” Greenland is an autonomous region in the Arctic that belongs to Denmark. (sda/dpa/con)