New Delhi: Tensions have flared between Washington and Copenhagen after US President Donald Trump renewed his push to acquire Greenland, prompting a sharp rebuke from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who warned that any forceful takeover would effectively dismantle NATO.
In a hard-hitting statement on January 4, Frederiksen declared that the United States has “no right” to occupy Greenland, a self-governing territory under the Danish Kingdom. She urged Trump to “stop the threats” against a close ally and its people, stressing that both Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly rejected any annexation ideas.
In a January 4 interview with The Atlantic, Trump insisted that America “absolutely needs” Greenland for national defence and strategic Arctic interests. He has not ruled out military or economic pressure, building on his earlier moves like appointing a special envoy in December 2025.
Frederiksen took Trump’s words seriously, warning in a podcast that if the US attacked another NATO member, “everything will stop – including NATO.” European leaders rallied behind Denmark: France asserted borders cannot be changed by force; UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer affirmed Greenland’s future lies with Denmark and itself, while Germany highlighted NATO’s collective defence obligations.
This escalating row underscores fragile transatlantic ties, with experts fearing broader fallout for global alliances amid Trump’s assertive foreign policy.
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