Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has issued a stark warning that the United States continues to pursue ownership and control over the Arctic island, despite recent diplomatic overtures suggesting de-escalation. Speaking before Parliament on Monday, Nielsen made clear that Washington’s fundamental position on Greenland has not shifted, stating that the US still views the territory as something “to be tied to the US and governed from there.”
The Prime Minister’s remarks come amid ongoing tensions over President Donald Trump’s repeated calls for US control of Greenland, which he has justified on national security grounds related to potential threats from Russia and China. While Trump initially refused to rule out military action to secure the strategically important territory, creating significant friction within NATO, he has since appeared to soften his approach. The US President now claims to have secured “total US access” to Greenland through a NATO agreement, though specific details of this arrangement have not been disclosed.
Nielsen emphasized that despite the apparent diplomatic thaw, Washington continues to seek “paths to ownership and control over Greenland.” This assessment suggests that the fundamental disagreement between Greenland’s aspirations for self-determination and American strategic interests remains unresolved. The Prime Minister’s comments were delivered through a translator and represent one of the most direct public statements from Greenland’s leadership regarding US intentions.
President Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One on Saturday, indicated that negotiations over a Greenland deal are progressing well. He suggested that an agreement is nearly finalized, claiming “they want us to do it” and describing the potential deal as “very, very important” from a national security perspective. However, the President did not provide specifics about the nature of these negotiations or confirm whether he had engaged with European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the matter.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen confirmed that initial trilateral talks between Denmark, Greenland, and the United States had “gone well,” with parties agreeing to establish a working group focused on Arctic security. However, Rasmussen acknowledged there had been a “huge derailment” following Trump’s military threats before stating that discussions are now “back on track.” The situation remains fluid as Greenland, Denmark, and the US navigate the complex intersection of sovereignty, security, and geopolitical strategy in the Arctic region.