‘American? No!’ Greenland Rejects Trump’s Renewed Threats

Political parties across Greenland have firmly rejected any move to place the mineral-rich Arctic territory under US control after President Donald Trump again suggested Washington could use force to seize the Danish autonomous region, triggering concern across Europe and beyond.

In a joint statement issued late Friday, leaders of five parties in Greenland’s parliament said the island’s future must be decided solely by its people, following remarks by Trump that the United States was “going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not.”

“We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danish, we want to be Greenlanders,” the statement said.
“The future of Greenland must be decided by Greenlanders. No other country can meddle in this.”

European capitals have been scrambling to coordinate a response after the White House reiterated this week that Trump wants to buy Greenland and declined to rule out military action to secure it.

France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot condemned Trump’s remarks, saying in an interview published Saturday that US “blackmail must stop.” However, he added that he did not believe a US military intervention would ultimately occur.

“Greenland is a European territory, placed under the protection of NATO,” Barrot said. “The Europeans have very powerful means to defend their interests.”

Fears of Invasion

Public anxiety in Denmark appears to be growing. A poll published Saturday by Danish news agency Ritzau found that more than 38 percent of Danes believe the United States could invade Greenland under the Trump administration.

A former Danish colony until 1953, Greenland gained home rule in 1979 and has gradually expanded its autonomy. While independence remains a long-term aspiration, many Greenlanders say they are wary of rushing the process.

“American? No!” said Julius Nielsen, a 48-year-old fisherman in the capital Nuuk. “We were a colony for so many years. We’re not ready to be colonized again.”

Others echoed the sentiment. “I really like the idea of us being independent, but I think we should wait—not now, not today,” said Pitsi Mari, who works in telecommunications.
“I feel like the United States’ interference disrupts all relationships and trust” between Denmark and Greenland, said Inaluk Pedersen, a 21-year-old shop assistant.

The current governing coalition opposes a hasty break with Denmark. The opposition party Naleraq, which won 24.5 percent of the vote in the 2025 legislative elections and favors rapid independence, also signed the joint declaration rejecting outside interference.

“It’s time for us to start preparing for the independence we have fought for over so many years,” Naleraq lawmaker Juno Berthelsen wrote on Facebook.

Strategic Island, Vast Resources

Denmark and its European allies have expressed shock at Trump’s renewed threats over Greenland, a strategically located island between North America and the Arctic where the United States has maintained a military presence since World War II.

Trump has argued that US control of Greenland is vital for national security amid increased Arctic activity by Russia and China.

“We’re not going to have Russia or China occupy Greenland,” Trump said Friday. “That’s what they’re going to do if we don’t. So we’re going to be doing something with Greenland, either the nice way or the more difficult way.”

While both Russia and China have stepped up their Arctic presence, neither has made territorial claims over Greenland. The island has also drawn growing global interest for its vast natural resources, including rare earth minerals and potential oil and gas reserves.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that any invasion of Greenland would end “everything,” referring to the transatlantic NATO alliance and the post-World War II security order.

Diplomatic Push to Defuse Tensions

Despite the heated rhetoric, Trump struck a more conciliatory tone toward Denmark on Friday.

“I’m a fan of Denmark,” he said. “They’ve been very nice to me. But the fact that they had a boat land there 500 years ago doesn’t mean that they own the land.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet Denmark’s foreign minister and representatives from Greenland next week, as European governments intensify diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis while avoiding a direct confrontation with Trump, who is nearing the end of his first year back in office.

Trump first floated the idea of buying Greenland during his initial term in 2019, a proposal that Denmark swiftly rejected.