Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has issued a stark warning to the United States, declaring that any military attempt to seize Greenland would effectively destroy the NATO alliance that has underpinned Western security for over seven decades.
"If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops," Frederiksen said in a forceful statement on Monday. "That includes our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War."
The warning comes amid escalating tensions following President Trump's renewed calls for U.S. control over Greenland, the world's largest island and a semi-autonomous Danish territory. Trump's weekend comment about discussing Greenland "in 20 days" has heightened fears of imminent action, particularly in the aftermath of the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Greenland's strategic importance cannot be overstated. The Arctic territory hosts the U.S. Pituffik Space Base under a 1951 defense agreement and sits at a critical junction between Europe and North America. Its vast mineral wealth, including rare earth elements essential for modern technology, aligns with Washington's ambition to reduce dependence on Chinese exports.
Greenland's Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen moved quickly to reassure constituents, emphasizing that the territory "is not comparable to Venezuela" and urging calm. "The United States cannot simply conquer us," Nielsen stated, while acknowledging the growing unease following the dramatic events in Caracas.
European leaders have rallied behind Denmark. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz both expressed solidarity, with the European Union reaffirming its commitment to Danish territorial integrity. The situation poses a profound dilemma for European allies who depend on U.S. military backing while facing unprecedented pressure from their most important security partner.
The Greenland crisis adds another layer of complexity to an already fraught transatlantic relationship, coming as European leaders gather in Paris for crucial talks on Ukraine's security future. The U.S. delegation's shift in focus toward Venezuela and now Greenland has raised questions about American commitment to European security concerns at this critical juncture.
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