Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a stern rebuke to President Donald Trump on Sunday, urging him to stop threatening to acquire Greenland just one day after the United States carried out a military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, raising fears about American territorial ambitions.
In a strongly worded statement, Frederiksen declared that it makes "absolutely no sense to talk about the need for the United States to take over Greenland," emphasizing that the autonomous Danish territory is not available for purchase or annexation. "The U.S. has no right to annex any of the three nations in the Danish kingdom," she stated firmly.
The diplomatic tension escalated after Trump told The Atlantic magazine on Sunday that Greenland could be subject to future U.S. intervention, declaring "We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense." The comments came hours after Katie Miller, wife of senior White House aide Stephen Miller, posted an image on social media showing Greenland covered with an American flag with the caption "SOON."
Frederiksen responded by calling on the United States to cease its aggressive rhetoric toward a longtime NATO ally. "I would therefore strongly urge the U.S. to stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people, who have very clearly said that they are not for sale," she emphasized.
The Danish leader also reminded Washington of the existing security arrangements, noting that "The Kingdom of Denmark — and thus Greenland — is part of NATO and is therefore covered by the alliance's security guarantee. We already have a defense agreement between the Kingdom and the United States today, which gives the United States wide access to Greenland."
Greenlandic Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen also weighed in, calling for calm and reiterating his government's position. "First and foremost, let me say calmly and clearly that there is no reason for panic or insecurity. The image shared by Katie Miller, in which Greenland is depicted wrapped in an American flag, does not change anything whatsoever. Our country is not for sale, and our future is not decided by posts on social media," Nielsen stated.
Earlier in the week, Frederiksen had delivered a defiant speech from her official residence, rebuking what she termed "threats, pressure, and condescending talk" from America, stating: "About wanting to take over another country, another people – as if it were something one could buy and own." The renewed tensions highlight growing concerns among U.S. allies about the Trump administration's approach to international relations.
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