Diplomatic tensions surged after Donald Trump renewed his assertions regarding Greenland in an interview with The Atlantic published on 4 January 2026. The U.S. president insisted that acquiring the Arctic territory is absolutely vital for the United States national defense. This has sparked urgent and intense condemnation from European allies.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded with unprecedented gravity. She stressed that the U.S. government holds no right to annex Greenland, and warned that any military intervention against a sovereign NATO ally would effectively dismantle the collective security framework established after the Second World War.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen joined the chorus of opposition. He specifically described the American rhetoric, under the second Trump administration, as utterly unacceptable. He emphasized that the island remains an autonomous territory under the Danish Crown and will never be subject to foreign purchase or annexation.
Norway, Finland, and Sweden immediately rallied behind Denmark. The three Nordic countries underscored that national sovereignty must be respected at all costs. The three neighbors also collectively argued that the future of Greenland or its complete sovereignty is a matter strictly for the Danish and Greenlandic people to decide.
The United Kingdom also voiced firm support for the territorial integrity of Denmark during this escalating crisis. Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the BBC, specifically in an article published on 5 January 2026, that the status of Greenland as a NATO member remains clear, and its borders cannot be redrawn by external powers.
France and Germany echoed these sentiments. Both countries expressed their solidarity with the Danish government against the emerging American pressure. French officials explained that borders cannot be changed by force, while German ministers reminded Washington of the shared defense obligations that bind the NATO alliance.
Italy urged the European Union to take a firm and unified stance against the geopolitical ambition and even the real estate aspirations of Trump. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani specifically argued that the bloc must maintain and promote further the independence of all territories governed by the member states of the European Union.
Concerns in Europe have been further heightened by the recent U.S. military actions in Venezuela that resulted in a military strike and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on 3 January 2026. Many leaders fear that Greenland could become the next target of U.S. intervention if Trump continues to pursue its aggressive foreign policy.
The diplomatic rift also stems back to the time when Denmark announced its plans to summon the American ambassador for questioning. This move followed reports on 23 December 2025 that the U.S. president had appointed a special envoy to Greenland, which officials in Denmark perceived as a highly provocative and hostile act.
FURTHER READINGS AND REFERENCES
- Mason, C. 5 January 2026. “Only Greenland and Denmark Should Decide Its Future, Starmer Says.” BBC. Available online
- Scherer, M. 4 January 2026. “Trump Threatens Venezuela’s New Leader With a Fate Worse Than Maduro’s.” The Atlantic. Available online
Photo Credit: Christian Ursilva / Mette Frederiksen speaking with journalists in Vandrehallen at Christiansborg Palace on Slotsholmen in Copenhagen, Denmark. / December 2025 / Adapted / CC BY-SA 4.0 International