PMs of Greenland, Denmark tell Trump to stop U.S. takeover threats
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Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen (left) and Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen in April. Photo: Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
The leaders of Greenland and Denmark called on President Trump to stop threatening to take over the resources-rich autonomous territory that's part of the Danish kingdom.
The big picture: The calls come after Trump renewed his push to control Greenland during a Sunday interview with The Atlantic on the U.S. raid and ensuing capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.
- "We do need Greenland, absolutely," Trump told The Atlantic. "We need it for defense."
What they're saying: Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen wrote on Facebook, "It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the US needing to take over Greenland. The US has no right to annex any of the three countries in the Danish kingdom."
- Frederiksen noted that Denmark is a NATO ally and that Greenland as part of the kingdom is covered by the alliance's security guarantee.
- "I would therefore strongly urge the United States to stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people who have very clearly said that they are not for sale," she said.
- Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Facebook, "When the president of the United States talks about 'we need Greenland' and connects us with Venezuela and military intervention, it's not just wrong. This is so disrespectful."
The latest: Trump doubled down on his Greenland comments while speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, claiming the "EU needs us" to have Greenland.
- "We need Greenland. … It's so strategic" he said. "Right now Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place," Trump added.
- "We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it."
- However, he said: "We'll worry about Greenland in about two months, let's talk about Greenland in 20 days."
Of note: Right-wing podcaster Katie Miller, a former Trump administration aide who's married to the president's top policy adviser, Stephen Miller, wrote on X "SOON" and shared a map of Greenland draped in the colors of the U.S. flag following the raid.
Between the lines: Trump's desire for the U.S. to control Greenland is based largely on a desire to tap the Arctic territory's immense mineral wealth, Axios' Dave Lawler notes.
- As the Arctic climate rapidly warms, China and Russia have been moving into the region — seeing the northern reaches as a resource-rich crossroads, and melting ice grants new travel and trade routes as well as opportunities for military basing, per Axios' Colin Demarest.
Go deeper: Denmark summons U.S. ambassador over Trump's renewed Greenland push
Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional comment from President Trump, further comment from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and with more context.
