Denmark has been thrust into “full crisis mode” after US President Donald Trump reignited his long-standing push for control over Greenland, just days after a dramatic American military operation in Venezuela raised global fears about Washington’s willingness to use force beyond its borders.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned bluntly that any US attack or takeover of Greenland would effectively spell the end of NATO as it currently exists.
What did Trump say about Greenland?
Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday (January 4, 2026), Trump said the United States “needs Greenland from the standpoint of national security,” adding that Denmark “is not going to be able to do it.”
The remarks, echoing similar comments to The Atlantic, came immediately after US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a surprise intervention that sent shockwaves through diplomatic and security circles worldwide.
Why is Trump’s remarks alarming for Denmark?
For Copenhagen, the timing was alarming. Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and Denmark is responsible for its defence under NATO.
Frederiksen responded with an unusually direct public rebuke, stressing that Greenland is already protected by NATO’s collective security guarantee and by a longstanding US-Denmark defence agreement granting Washington broad access to the Arctic island.
What did the Danish PM say about Greenland?
“It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the United States taking over Greenland,” Frederiksen said, urging Washington to stop threatening “a historically close ally and another people who have said very clearly that they are not for sale.”
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen went further, calling Trump’s remarks “very rude and disrespectful.”
How has Trump revived a debate on Greenland?
Trump’s renewed focus on Greenland has revived a debate that first surfaced during his earlier presidency.
Greenland’s strategic location between Europe and North America, its proximity to the Arctic and Russia, and its vast reserves of rare earths and other minerals have made it increasingly central to US security calculations.
However, opinion polls consistently show Greenlanders overwhelmingly oppose US control, even as many favor eventual independence from Denmark.
How has Copenhagen shored up its ties with Nuuk?
In recent months, Copenhagen has sought to shore up relations with Nuuk while also signaling seriousness on Arctic defence.
Denmark has pledged increased spending on healthcare and infrastructure in Greenland and announced new military investments, including the purchase of 16 additional F-35 fighter jets, partly aimed at reassuring Washington.
Why are the stakes higher on Greenland than just a war of words?
Yet political risk analysts warn the stakes are far higher than a bilateral spat. Mujtaba Rahman of Eurasia Group said Denmark is now in “full crisis mode,” arguing that the “Greenland risk is underpriced” and could pose a greater threat to transatlantic unity than Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Trump’s refusal to rule out military or economic force, the appointment of a pro-takeover special envoy to Greenland, and provocative messaging from figures close to the White House have only deepened fears.
As the fallout from Venezuela lingers, Trump’s Greenland rhetoric has transformed a long-simmering Arctic dispute into a potential existential test for NATO—and for the postwar alliance system itself.