Greenland’s Head of Authorities (Naalakkersuisut) Jens-Frederik Nielsen (L) and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen give an announcement on the present scenario at a press convention within the Mirror Corridor on the Prime Minister’s Workplace in Copenhagen, Denmark, on January 13, 2026.
Liselotte Sabroe | Afp | Getty Photos
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen mentioned on Tuesday that the Arctic island chooses Denmark over the U.S., pushing again towards Donald Trump’s repeated takeover threats.
“If we now have to decide on between the USA and Denmark right here and now, we select Denmark. We select NATO, the Kingdom of Denmark and the EU,” Nielsen mentioned, in accordance to translated feedback reported by Danish public broadcaster DR.
He was talking alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at a information convention in Copenhagen, forward of crunch talks between U.S., Danish and Greenlandic officers on the White Home on Wednesday.
“The time has come to face collectively,” Nielsen added.
“It has not been simple to face as much as fully unacceptable strain from our closest allies for a lifetime. However there’s a lot to counsel that the toughest half remains to be forward of us,” Frederiksen mentioned.
Trump’s renewed curiosity in buying Greenland follows an audacious U.S. navy operation to grab Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3.
Trump, who has lengthy advocated for management over Greenland, has mentioned the U.S. wants the Arctic island to stop Russia and China from doing the identical, telling reporters that Washington would purchase the self-governing Danish territory “somehow.”
The U.S. president has additionally mentioned that the mineral-rich island, which is strategically located between Europe and North America, is important “from the standpoint of nationwide safety.”
Opinion polls have beforehand proven that Greenlanders overwhelmingly oppose U.S. management, whereas a robust majority assist independence from Denmark.
Denmark has pledged to spice up healthcare spending and infrastructure investments in latest months, whereas additionally searching for to defuse tensions with the Trump administration by investing in Arctic protection, together with the acquisition of 16 further F-35 fighter jets.
