Donald Trump has renewed his threats to take over Greenland, sparking fear of invasion in the Danish semi-autonomous territory after the unprecedented US invasion in Venezuela that saw President Nicolás Maduro and his wife arrested and flown out of the country.
The US President said Washington needs Greenland “from the standpoint of national security” and mocked Denmark for boosting the island’s security by adding “one more dog sled”.
“We need Greenland… It’s so strategic right now. Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” he said aboard Air Force One.
Home to just 57,000 people yet spanning the world’s largest island, the Arctic territory occupies a strategically critical position between North America and Europe
This underpins its importance to the US ballistic missile defence system.
Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, denied a military operation would be necessary to secure the island.
“Nobody’s gonna fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland,” he said in an interview with CNN.
His comments came after his wife, Katie Miller, reignited the tension between the NATO allies after posting an image of Greenland covered with the US flag with the caption “SOON”.
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Nuuk and Copenhagen respond to the threats
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen published a statement on X condemning Trump’s rhetoric and describing it as “totally unacceptable” and “disrespectful”.
“Enough is enough. No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation,” he said.
The Prime Minister also noted that Greenland is “fully aware” of its strategic location and understands its security “depends on good friends and strong alliances”, such as the one with the United States.
“But alliances are built on trust. And trust requires respect. Threats, pressure, and talk of annexation have no place between friends,” he added.
Nielsen confirmed the country is open for dialogue but only through the proper channels and “in respect of international law”.
In a press conference in the capital Nuuk, the PM urged the residents not to panic and called for the country to restore its cooperation with the US.
“You cannot compare Greenland to Venezuela. We are a democratic country,” Nielsen stated.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also defended the Arctic territory, saying Washington must “stop the threats” as it “has no right to annex any of the three nations in the Danish Kingdom”.
“If the United States decides to attack another NATO country, then everything would stop — that includes NATO and therefore post-World War II security,” she said in a televised interview.
Frederiksen added that Copenhagen’s position on the matter is “very clear” and her government is working hard to prevent an attack on Greenland.
Europe stands with Greenland
Trump’s growing desire to take over the Danish semi-autonomous island and his recent operation in Venezuela, has caused unease and worry among European leaders.
British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, asserted that only Denmark and Greenland can decide the fate of the territory, saying he stands with the Danish PM on the matter.
France also expressed solidarity with both countries, repeating Starmer’s position and adding that “borders cannot be changed by force” while the Polish PM, Donald Tusk, claimed Europe “must stay united like never before”.
Similarly, a representative of the EU defended Greenland and Denmark, saying the Block “will continue to uphold the principles of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders”.
“These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them, all the more so if the territorial integrity of a member state of the European Union is questioned,” said Anitta Hipper, EU’s lead foreign policy spokesperson.
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Adam Peaker 
Newsjustnews writers 
Carmela Calling