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Denmark would not hesitate to use military force if the United States takes military action against Greenland, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said, as tensions escalate over US President Donald Trump's threats to seize the Arctic territory.
Speaking in Copenhagen, Frederiksen said Denmark is closely monitoring Trump's threats to "take" Greenland and noted that the US president has not ruled out using military force to achieve that goal.
"Therefore, we would not refrain from doing the same," Frederiksen said. "This would be a natural consequence of what the US President says or does not say."
Frederiksen announced that military training activities in Greenland have been increased, attributing the expanded military presence to NATO's Arctic Resilience Operation, which has been ongoing for some time.
The statement comes after Trump declared that the US "needs Greenland for national security purposes" and that it is "vital for the Golden Dome being built." Following a meeting in Washington between foreign ministers from the US, Denmark and Greenland, fundamental disagreements remained, with the US "desire to take Greenland" described as clear.
Greenland, an autonomous region under the Kingdom of Denmark, has previously rejected approaches from the US that included transferring sovereignty. Denmark has recently called for increased military cooperation with allies in the region, with European countries announcing plans to send small military units and officers to Greenland.
In response to European resistance, Trump argued that world peace is at risk in the Greenland dispute and announced tariff measures against Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland for opposing US acquisition of Greenland.
Trump specified that a 10 percent tariff would be imposed on these eight European countries starting February 1, rising to 25 percent after June 1. He indicated the rate would remain until an agreement is reached for the complete purchase of Greenland.
Former Danish Prime Minister and NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen wrote in the Economist that Europe must take a stronger stance against Trump's "hostile outbursts" while offering diplomatic solutions including economic and security agreements.
Rasmussen emphasized Denmark's military sacrifices alongside the US, noting that between 2002 and 2021, 52 flag-draped coffins of Danish soldiers returned from Afghanistan and Iraq. Denmark suffered more casualties relative to its population than any other member of the American-led coalition except Georgia, he said.
"As prime minister of Denmark and secretary-general of NATO, I considered America to be the natural leader of the free world," Rasmussen wrote. "But in watching President Donald Trump's hostile outbursts against one of America's most loyal allies, I must now conclude that enough is enough."
Rasmussen argued that Greenland poses no threat to the US and is already protected by NATO. If Russia or China attempted to land forces in Greenland, they would face the combined might of NATO allies, not Danish forces alone, he said.
Under the 1951 US-Denmark security agreement, American forces can increase their presence in Greenland, and Rasmussen suggested economic incentives could be offered, noting that American companies seeking to invest in Greenland's resources would be welcomed.
However, he warned that traditional diplomacy may prove insufficient with Trump, who "believes that Europe is divided and feckless, and that when push comes to shove, we will cling to our statements of profound disagreement as we give him what he wants."
Rasmussen called for deploying the EU economic "bazooka" with massive import and export restrictions and cutting American companies off from European public procurement if the Trump administration attempts to change a sovereign European border.
"We must draw an impassable line in the snow of Greenland," Rasmussen wrote. "Europe is left, then, with a choice. We can either play Trump's game of strength—or be forced to suffer what we must."
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