Denmark steps up Greenland defence as Trump urges Nato-backed US control

Denmark announced on Wednesday that it would reinforce its military footprint in Greenland “from today”, just ahead of sensitive talks in Washington prompted by US President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to take control of the Arctic territory.

In a statement, the Danish defence ministry said the country’s armed forces would begin deploying assets and personnel as part of exercise-related activities. In the coming period, this would lead to a heightened military presence in and around Greenland, including aircraft, naval vessels and troops, with some contributions coming from Nato allies.

Earlier the same day, President Trump said Nato should assist the United States in obtaining Greenland, insisting that anything short of the island coming under US control was unacceptable. His remarks came just hours before U.S. Vice President JD Vance was due to hold talks with officials from Denmark and Greenland.

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In a post on his social media site, Trump reiterated his argument that the US “needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security.” He added that “Nato should be leading the way for us to get it” and that otherwise Russia or China would — “AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!”

“Nato becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES,” Trump wrote. “Anything less than that is unacceptable.”

Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Nato ally Denmark, is at the center of a geopolitical storm as Trump insists he wants to own it and residents of its capital, Nuuk, say it isn’t for sale. The White House hasn’t ruled out taking the Arctic island by force.

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Vance, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is to meet Denmark’s foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and his Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt in Washington later Wednesday to discuss Greenland.

More diplomatic efforts

Following the White House meeting, Løkke Rasmussen and Motzfeldt, along with Denmark’s ambassador to the US are due to meet with senators from the Arctic Caucus in the US Congress.

Two lawmakers — Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican — have introduced bipartisan legislation that would prohibit the use of US Defence or State department funds to annex or take control of Greenland or the sovereign territory of any Nato member state without that ally’s consent or authorisation from the North Atlantic Council.

A bipartisan delegation of lawmakers is also heading to Copenhagen later this week to meet Danish and Greenlandic officials.

Last week, Denmark’s major European allies joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in issuing a statement declaring that Greenland belongs to its people and that “it is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told RTL radio Wednesday that his country plans to open a consulate in Greenland Feb. 6, following a decision last summer to open the diplomatic outpost.

“Attacking another Nato member would make no sense; it would even be contrary to the interests of the United States. And I’m hearing more and more voices in the United States saying this,” Barrot said. “So this blackmail must obviously stop.”

With inputs from agencies