Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has stated that his territory would choose Denmark over the United States if forced to make a decision “here and now.” The remarks came during a joint news conference with Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, marking the strongest response from Greenland’s leadership since U.S. President Donald Trump revived his controversial plan to acquire the island.
Trump has argued that the U.S. needs to “own” Greenland to counter Russia and China, suggesting that purchase or even forceful annexation could be options. Frederiksen, a fellow NATO member, condemned any military action, warning it would threaten the trans-Atlantic alliance.
Responding to Nielsen’s statement, Trump told reporters, “That’s their problem, I disagree with him… That’s going to be a big problem for him.”
Despite its small population, Greenland’s strategic location between North America and the Arctic makes it critical for early missile warning systems and maritime monitoring. Trump has repeatedly emphasized its importance to U.S. security, alleging—without evidence—that Russian and Chinese ships are present in Greenlandic waters.
The U.S. already maintains over 100 military personnel at Pituffik, a base in northwestern Greenland operated by the U.S. since World War II. Current agreements with Denmark allow U.S. forces unrestricted access, but Trump has insisted that a lease is insufficient and that full ownership is necessary.
At the Copenhagen conference, Frederiksen criticized what she called “completely unacceptable pressure from our closest ally” and warned that “the most challenging part is ahead of us.”
Nielsen was clear on Greenland’s stance: “If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States. Greenland does not want to be governed by the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States.”
The statements come a day before Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt are scheduled to meet U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
