Danish leader blasts Trump over Greenland amid his threats to take it over as she warns of building up her country's military
SOURCE:Daily Mail
President Donald Trump has repeatedly revived his desire to seize control of Greenland, most recently just weeks ago when he declared that taking over was vital to 'national protection.'
Denmark's prime minister has warned President Donald Trump that the country is ramping up its military force as he continues to threaten a takeover of Greenland.
Trump has repeatedly revived his push to seize control of Greenland - Denmark's semi-autonomous territory and a NATO ally - most recently just weeks ago with the appointment of a special envoy.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry was appointed to the role, with Trump declaring the goal of 'making Greenland part of the US,' which he has targeted for years because of its strategic position in the Arctic.
The president doubled down the following day, calling Greenland vital to 'national protection' and claiming that the US had explored the island three centuries ago.
On Thursday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of the ruling Social Democrats blasted Trump's ongoing threats during her annual New Year's speech, insisting that Denmark will 'stand firm on what is right and wrong.'
'In this past year, we have had to pay attention to a lot. Threats. Pressure. Derogatory language. From our closest ally for a lifetime,' Frederiksen said, according to Danish daily newspaper Berlingske.
'Wanting to take over another country, other people. As if it were something you could buy and own,' she added. 'It doesn't belong anywhere.'
Frederiksen said in the televised speech that Denmark is quickly ramping up its military force and reinforcing stronger security in the Arctic amid the president's escalating pressure.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (pictured) of the ruling Social Democrats warned President Trump that the country is ramping up its military force amid his ongoing threats during her annual New Year's speech
Trump has repeatedly pushed to seize control of Greenland - Denmark's semi-autonomous territory and a NATO ally - because of its strategic position in the Arctic
In December, Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (pictured) as special envoy to Greenland with the goal of 'making Greenland part of the US'
'My speech tonight has not been about foreign policy. It could well have been that. You know where I - where the government stands,' the prime minister said.
'We are in full swing strengthening Danish defense and preparedness,' she added. 'Never before have we increased our military strength so significantly. So quickly.'
'We are not the ones seeking conflict. But let no one be in any doubt: No matter what happens, we will stand firm on what is right and wrong.'
The prime minister reiterated that the country is working to strengthen security in the Arctic, and described the kingdom as vast in territory but small in population.
'We are taking on our responsibilities in the world. If we let one country fall first, then the way is paved for Russia to advance further into Europe,' she said, according to the Danish outlet.
King Frederik X of Denmark shared similar views in his annual New Year's address, highlighting the new military training programs and praising the 'strength and pride' of Greenlanders during this 'turbulent time.'
Trump has renewed his desire to annex Greenland since his 2025 return to the White House, and in May, even declared that he wasn't ruling out 'force' to seize the resource-rich island.
In December, outrage among Danish leaders flared again when Trump appointed Gov. Landry as special envoy to Greenland, a territory that, while part of the Kingdom of Denmark, is largely self-governing.
Trump only doubled down when he called Greenland vital to 'national protection' and claimed that the US had explored the island three centuries ago
King Frederik X of Denmark (right) highlighted the new military training programs and praised the 'strength and pride' of Greenlanders during this 'turbulent time' in his New Year's address
In May, Trump declared that he wasn't ruling out 'force' to seize the resource-rich island of Greenland
'Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our National Security, and will strongly advance our Country's Interests for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Allies, and indeed, the World,' he stated in a Truth Social post.
Landry, who became Louisiana's governor in 2024, thanked the president on X, calling it 'an honor to serve in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the US.'
'This in no way affects my position as Governor of Louisiana,' he added.
Responding to the appointment in a joint statement, PM Frederiksen and her counterpart Jens-Frederik Nielsen said: 'We have said it before. Now, we say it again: national borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law,' according to The Independent.
'They are fundamental principals,' the statement added. 'You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security.'
'Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and the US shall not take over Greenland. We expect respect for our joint territorial integrity.'
In a post on Facebook, Prime Minister Nielsen wrote: 'We have woken up again to a new announcement from the US president. This may sound big, but it does not change anything for us. We decide our own future.'
Just a day after Landry's appointment, Trump returned to the topic of 'national security' at a Florida press conference, insisting the US is not seeking to exploit Greenland's vast mineral wealth.
Denmark's prime minister reiterated that the country is working to strengthen security in the Arctic, and described the kingdom as vast in territory but small in population
Trump returned to the topic of 'national security' at a recent Florida press conference and insisted that the US is not seeking to exploit Greenland's vast mineral wealth
The president said he wanted to use the island to curb Russian and Chinese influence - two nations he accused of having ships in the region
Instead, the president said he wanted to use the island to curb Russian and Chinese influence- two nations he accused of having ships in the region, according to The Independent.
'They say that Denmark was there 300 years ago or something with a boat. Well, we were there with boats too, I'm sure. So we'll have to work it all out,' Trump said.
However, the Inuit - often referred to as Eskimos - are Indigenous peoples who live primarily in the Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland, Alaska and parts of Siberia - and have inhabited Greenland for thousands of years.
Furthermore, Europeans first made contact with Greenland in the late 10th century, meaning that the US only became involved in exploration of the island in the late 1900s.
Polls across Greenland have also revealed that residents overwhelmingly oppose becoming part of the US, as reported by The Independent.
The Danish Defense Intelligence Service released a report warning that shifts in American policy have raised new concerns, specifically citing Trump’s use of reciprocal tariffs against US allies and his actions in the Arctic.
'The United States uses economic power, including threats of high tariffs, to enforce its will and no longer rules out the use of military force, even against allies,' the report read, according to The New York Times.
In early December, for the first time in history, Denmark’s military intelligence service labeled the US a security risk
In March, Vice President JD Vance his and his wife visited the Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland where it was -3 degrees Fahrenheit when they landed
During the visit, Vance said that the US was no longer willing to 'pick up the tab' for Europe to keep the region safe
The annual report also argued that the Trump administration's growing focus on competition with China 'creates uncertainty about its role as the primary guarantor of security in Europe.'
In a worst-case scenario, Danish intelligence predicted that NATO allies could face simultaneous conflicts, with China and Russia prepared to engage in regional wars in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea, respectively.
The report came just one week after the Trump administration released its own national security report, calling on European nations to take 'primary responsibility' for their own defense.
He and his wife Usha visited the Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland where it was -3 degrees Fahrenheit when they landed.
During the visit, Vance said that the United States was no longer willing to 'pick up the tab' for Europe to keep the region safe.
'If the people of Greenland are willing to partner with United States, and I think they ultimately will, we could make them much more secure. We could do a lot more protection, and I think they would fare a lot better economically as well,' he said.
Meanwhile, in Nuuk - Greenland's capital - the US consulate is still recruiting unpaid interns to support the president’s Greenland annexation efforts and potentially placing costs on local taxpayers.