The Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, announced early elections to be held on March 24. The announcement came during a plenary session of the Danish Parliament.

“I recommended that King Frederik hold elections on March 24”

– Frederiksen said

There is less than a year left until the current Parliament’s term ends. The elections were to be held no later than October 31.

According to the publication, the decision to postpone the voting date is likely based on the rapid rise in support for Frederiksen’s Social Democrats due to the aggressive statements by U.S. President Donald Trump about a possible Greenland annexation.

In her speech, Frederiksen directly cited the tension in relations between Copenhagen and Washington and assured that her caretaker government would remain vigilant in the run-up to the March elections.

“Although Denmark is currently in the middle of an election campaign, the world will not wait. As everyone knows, the Greenland dispute is not over yet. The government, of course, will continue to safeguard Denmark’s interests”

– Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen

The political prospects look serious: according to the latest polls, the Social Democrats could garner about 22% of the vote, nearly double the forecast result of their closest rivals, notably the Greens–Left.

Frederiksen’s party is currently part of a coalition with liberal centrists and moderate forces, but many supporters are calling for closer cooperation with left-wing groups.

She did not rule out the possibility of partnership after the elections, noting that she can envision both a coalition with the political center and an alliance with the left-wing forces.

“I am not ruling anything out in advance. In the times we live in, I will refrain from issuing ultimatums”

– Frederiksen

What is known about Trump’s statements on Greenland

At the end of 2024, Donald Trump stated that control over Greenland is an “absolute necessity” for U.S. national security. Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede replied that the island is not for sale.

Already on January 7, 2025, Trump suggested using military or economic pressure to achieve his aim, and publicly urged Greenland’s accession to the United States, calling it inevitable. In subsequent interviews, he explained the interest in Greenland on defense grounds.

“At the end of 2024, Donald Trump stated that control over Greenland is an ‘absolute necessity’ for the U.S. national security.”

– Donald Trump

The Danish Prime Minister also stated that in case of a military or economic intervention by the United States this would spell the end of NATO. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark with significant mineral resources and strategic assets, including American facilities. The reaction of world leaders was notable: European countries and the United States expressed support for ensuring collective security within NATO.

On January 14, 2026, Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen announced additional defense funding for the possible protection of Greenland. On January 21, 2026, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump asserted that the United States would not use force to gain control over the island. According to Bloomberg, on January 29, 2026, talks began among the United States, Denmark, and Greenland on a new framework agreement for Arctic cooperation.

Greenland remains the largest island in the world and an autonomous territory of Denmark with large reserves of minerals and strategic assets, including American facilities.