US President Donald Trump and Denmark PM Frederiksen (File photo)
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Monday strongly rejected US President Donald Trump’s renewed claims about Greenland, the autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.Frederiksen dismissed Trump’s repetitive assertions that the US “needs” Greenland for “security reasons”, calling it an “unacceptable pleasure.” Speaking to a Danish broadcaster, she said, “Unfortunately, I think the American president should be taken seriously when he says he wants Greenland,” also mentioning that both Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly ruled out any possibility of the island becoming part of the United States.When asked what it would mean if the US used force against another Nato member, Frederiksen replied, “If the US attacks another Nato country, everything stops.” She added that while she cannot predict Washington’s actions, “there is full support from Europe that borders must be respected.”In a Sunday interview with The Atlantic, Trump insisted the US “absolutely” needs Greenland and discussed American intervention in Venezuela. Reviving his long-running interest in acquiring the island, he argued that it is crucial for US national security. “We need Greenland. … It’s so strategic right now. Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” he claimed. “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”In response, Frederiksen issued a statement on Sunday saying the US has no right to annex Greenland and urging Washington to stop issuing threats toward a close ally and the people of Greenland.Tensions escalated further after Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as the US special envoy to Greenland last month. Since taking office in January 2025, Trump has repeatedly shown interest in gaining control of the island, saying he would not rule out using “military or economic coercion” to pursue that goal.