Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has issued a sharp rebuke to the United States, labelling suggestions that Washington should take control of Greenland as "absurd" and calling for an end to what she termed threats against a historic ally. The statement, released late on Sunday, January 3, 2026, comes amid heightened tensions following U.S. military intervention in Venezuela and renewed expressions of interest in the Arctic territory from former President Donald Trump.
A Firm Rejection from Copenhagen
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen left no room for ambiguity in her response to the latest signals from Washington. "I have to say this very clearly to the United States: it is absolutely absurd to say that the United States should take control of Greenland," she stated. Frederiksen explicitly called on the U.S. to cease "threatening its historical ally." This diplomatic admonition follows a weekend where the Trump administration's actions in Venezuela rattled European partners and cast a new light on long-standing U.S. ambitions in the North Atlantic.
Provocations and Strategic Interests
The fears in Copenhagen and Nuuk were underscored by two specific events. First, in a telephone interview with The Atlantic magazine published Sunday, Donald Trump reiterated his desire for the Danish autonomous territory. When asked about the implications of the Venezuela operation for Greenland, Trump said, "They are going to have to view it themselves. I really don’t know." He then added unequivocally: "But we do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence." Trump has consistently cited the island's strategic location in the Arctic and its wealth of critical minerals as reasons for U.S. acquisition.
Secondly, late on Saturday, Katie Miller—the wife of Trump's influential deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller—posted an image on her X feed showing Greenland depicted in the colours of the U.S. flag. The post was captioned with a single, provocative word: "SOON." This move was immediately criticized as disrespectful and inflammatory.
Diplomatic Fallout and Reassurances
The reaction from Danish and Greenlandic officials was swift. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen called Miller's post "disrespectful," emphasizing that international relations are built on mutual respect and law, not symbolic gestures. However, he also sought to calm public concern, stating, "there is neither reason for panic nor for concern. Our country is not for sale, and our future is not decided by social media posts."
Denmark’s ambassador to the U.S., Jesper Moeller Soerensen, issued a pointed "friendly reminder" on X, noting the close NATO alliance between the two nations. He highlighted that Denmark has "significantly boosted its Arctic security efforts" and works collaboratively with the U.S., expecting "full respect for the territorial integrity" of the Kingdom of Denmark.
The controversy arrives in the wake of the Trump administration's dramatic military action in Venezuela on Saturday, which saw U.S. forces attack Caracas and seize President Nicolas Maduro. Trump declared the U.S. would now "run" Venezuela indefinitely to access its oil reserves. This aggressive move has left allies questioning the boundaries of U.S. foreign policy and its respect for the sovereignty of other nations, even those within its traditional sphere of influence.
