Copenhagen, Jan 5 (EFE).- Denmark received broad backing from the European Union and several European governments on Monday after US President Donald Trump renewed threats to acquire Greenland.
The threat prompted firm warnings that the Arctic territory’s sovereignty and borders are protected under international law and NATO commitments.
“The EU will continue to uphold the principles of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders,” European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper said at the bloc’s daily briefing.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer voiced explicit support for Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, stressing that Greenland’s future can only be decided by Copenhagen and Nuuk.
“Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark must decide the future of Greenland, no one else,” Starmer told the BBC.
NATO territory, NATO obligations
Support also came swiftly from Germany, France,and Nordic neighbors, with Berlin underlining that any threat to Greenland engages NATO’s collective defense framework.
“Since Denmark is a NATO member, Greenland must also be defended as NATO territory,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said at a joint press conference in Vilnius with his Lithuanian counterpart.
The German government reinforced that position, stating bluntly that “borders cannot be changed by force, and territories cannot be annexed by force.”
France echoed the warning, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux stressing that Greenland “belongs to the Greenlanders and the Danes” and that borders cannot be altered “by force or the threat of force.”
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre also publicly affirmed Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland.
Trump cites ‘national security’
Trump reiterated on Sunday that the US neededGreenland for national security reasons, citing the island’s strategic position between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans.
“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security,” he said, arguing that the region was “covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.”
Speaking both in an interview with The Atlantic and aboard Air Force One, he claimed Greenland is surrounded by Russian and Chinese vessels and asserted that Denmark is unable to guarantee its security.
While initially deflecting questions, Trump later insisted the issue was unavoidable.
Copenhagen rejects annexation talk
Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen dismissed the remarks as “senseless,” saying Washington has “no right” to annex any part of the Danish realm, which consists of Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Greenlandic Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen also rejected Trump’s statements, warning that relations between states must be based on respect and international law—not symbolic gestures that ignore Greenland’s legal status and political rights.
Greenlandic MP Aaja Chemnitz Larsen said Trump’s comments were particularly alarming given their timing, coming just one day after a U.S. military operation in Venezuela.
“We must prepare for the worst, even as we hope for the best,” she said, urging greater emergency preparedness between Denmark and Greenland.
Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of the semi-autonomous Danish territory of Greenland becoming part of the US, citing its strategic military location and mineral resources.
The appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as US special envoy to Greenland last month triggered protests from both Danish and Greenlandic authorities.
Home to about 57,000 people across 2.1 million square kilometers, Greenland relies heavily on fishing and annual financial support from Denmark, which covers roughly half of its budget. EFE
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