Denmark will not bow to Donald Trump’s demand to hand over Greenland, said the country’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen. He noted that the topic was discussed during a meeting with the U.S. ambassador to Denmark, where the appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenland with the aim of its joining the United States was discussed. According to Rasmussen, the meeting was intended to say “no” and draw a clear red line, but also to ascertain Washington’s position.
An attack on one part of the kingdom is an attack on the entire kingdom
– Lars Lokke Rasmussen
Position on Greenland and NATO
Rasmussen emphasized that Greenland is protected by the United States’ commitments to NATO, and the Danish government calls on allies to pay more attention to the Arctic region and its strategic significance.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed willingness to consider a broader presence of American forces in the region. However, she and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen rejected Trump’s idea.
Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and its territorial integrity must be respected
– Jens-Frederik Nielsen
Meanwhile, in discussions about the region, it was noted that Greenland is protected by the United States’ defense commitments to NATO, and Denmark calls on allies to pay more attention to the Arctic. A few hours after this initiative was proposed, the United States halted the lease of all five offshore wind farms being constructed off the eastern coast, exerting pressure on Danish developer Orsted A/S, whose stake is owned by the Danish state and which is a co-developer of the Revolution Wind project.
Denmark and the United States are also bound by a 1951 defense treaty, which allows Washington to use military infrastructure in Greenland. The island hosts the Pituffik Space Base, which is responsible for monitoring space activity and warning of missile attacks.