The leaders of Denmark, Britain, Germany, France and other countries issued a statement opposing President Trump’s desire to annex Greenland into the US, calling for joint security in the Arctic.
“Denmark, including Greenland, is part of NATO,” according to a joint statement released by the Danish Prime Minister’s Office on January 6. “Security in the Arctic must therefore be ensured collectively with NATO allies, including the United States, by upholding the principles of the United Nations Charter.”
The joint statement was signed by British Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and the leaders of Poland, Italy and Spain.
According to European leaders, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as inviolable borders “are universal principles and we will never stop defending them”.
They affirmed that the US is an essential partner in the above effort as a NATO ally, through the 1951 agreement allowing Washington to set up a base in Greenland.
“Greenland belongs to its people,” the text said. “Only Denmark and Greenland have the right to decide on matters that concern them.”
Coastal houses in Greenland’s capital Nuuk in February 2025. Image: AP
The joint statement was issued while many European countries were concerned that the US might use military measures to control Greenland, after the country launched a campaign to arrest Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3.
One day after the US arrested Mr. Maduro, President Trump reiterated his statement that he needed Greenland for defense and said that the Danish island “is being surrounded by Russian and Chinese warships.”
Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen later declared that the idea that Washington needed to control Greenland was completely absurd, asserting that the US “has no right to annex any of the three territories belonging to Denmark”.
Ms. Frederiksen said “it is necessary to seriously consider” Mr. Trump’s statement. “If the US decides to militarily attack a NATO member country, everything will end, including NATO and post-World War II security,” Ms. Frederiksen warned.
Greenland location. Graphics: Britannica
Greenland is the world’s largest island, located near North America, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. The island belongs to Denmark, has a population of 57,000 people and an area of about 2.16 million square kilometers, larger than Mexico and more than three times larger than the US state of Texas.
The island lies on the shortest route from North America to Europe, making it an important strategic location for Washington. Greenland has abundant mineral resources, most of which are untapped.
Danish authorities have sought to improve relations with Greenland in 2025 with policies that are more considerate of the island’s people. They are also trying to reduce tensions with President Trump’s administration by investing in defense capabilities in the Arctic to address US criticism on security issues.