Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that any military action by the United States against Greenland would effectively bring an end to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
Speaking during an interview on Monday, Frederiksen said a decision by the United States to attack another NATO member would dismantle the alliance and undermine the security framework that has existed since the end of the Second World War.
“One should take the American president seriously when he says that he wants Greenland. If the US chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops, including NATO and the security that has been established since the end of the Second World War,” she said.
Her remarks followed renewed calls by US President Donald Trump for Greenland to come under American control. Trump has cited security concerns as justification for the proposed move, arguing that Denmark has failed to adequately protect the semi-autonomous territory.
The comments came shortly after US military action in Venezuela, during which President Nicolás Maduro was reportedly abducted, an episode that unsettled global leaders. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump said he would address the issue of Greenland further within 20 days.
Despite Denmark’s increased financial commitments to Greenland, including billions of dollars invested in defence and infrastructure for the island’s population of about 57,000, Trump insisted the efforts were insufficient.
“They have a very small population, and Denmark has spent no money. They have no military protection. They say Denmark was there 300 years ago or something, with a boat. Well, we were there with boats too. So we’ll have to work it all out,” he said.
Several European leaders have since expressed support for Denmark. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly backed Frederiksen, saying he stood with her and agreed with her position on Greenland’s future. France and Germany have also declared their support for the territory.
Although Trump’s comments have drawn sharp reactions, US interest in Greenland is not new. Washington first explored the possibility of acquiring the island in 1867, when Secretary of State William Seward commissioned a study on purchasing Greenland and Iceland shortly after the acquisition of Alaska from Russia. The proposal was driven by strategic considerations but ultimately failed.
Greenland occupies a strategic position between the Arctic and the North Atlantic and is believed to hold vast reserves of critical minerals and fossil fuels. These resources have drawn the attention of major global powers, including China and Russia. Climate change is also accelerating ice melt on the island, potentially unlocking resources and opening shorter shipping routes between North America, Europe and Asia.
Trump has denied that mineral wealth is behind his interest, insisting the United States already has sufficient access to critical resources. Greenland also hosts the US military’s northernmost air base, along with a radar facility vital for missile warning and space surveillance.
