Denmark says the US stance on Greenland is 'serious'.
According to the Danish Foreign Minister, US President Donald Trump's statements regarding the island of Greenland are serious.
According to RIA Novosti on January 15, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen told Fox News that the White House had clarified the seriousness of President Donald Trump's claims of sovereignty over Greenland.
"I am absolutely certain that this ambition of the president has been publicly expressed through statements," said the Danish Foreign Minister.
Rasmussen also suggested that Washington might actually try to control the territory.
"But Greenland cannot accept all of that. According to the latest polls in Greenland, only 6% of the island's population wants to become American," the Danish Foreign Minister added.
The day before, President Donald Trump demanded that Denmark “withdraw” from Greenland. He also called on NATO to help the US regain control of the island. The American leader believes that the military alliance would be more effective and powerful if Greenland “belonged to Washington.” President Trump also stated that otherwise it could “fall into the hands of Russia or China.”
Greenland was once part of the Kingdom of Denmark. However, in 2009, Greenland gained autonomy, allowing the region to govern itself and determine its own internal policies.
Since the beginning of his second term, the White House occupant has repeatedly stated that the island of Greenland should become part of the United States. Trump has refused to commit to not using force to achieve this, nor has he definitively stated what is more important to him: Greenland or maintaining NATO.
In December 2025, the US leader appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy for Greenland. In return, Landry confirmed Washington's intention to annex the territory.
Following the US military campaign in Venezuela in early January, Trump began talking more about his plans for Greenland.
All of this sparked a wave of fierce criticism in Greenland, where leaders of all five parties in parliament condemned and opposed joining the US. For his part, the Danish ambassador to the US, Jesper Møller Sørensen, reiterated that Copenhagen and Washington are close allies within NATO.
In January 2026, European Union member states discussed a possible response should US threats prove credible.
