Greenland's prime minister backs Denmark ahead of White House talks

Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said “we choose Denmark” at a joint press conference with Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, as high-stakes talks at the White House approach amid US moves to take control of the Arctic territory. Nielsen said the island would not be owned or governed by Washington and described the situation as a “geopolitical crisis”, saying “if we have to choose between the US and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark, Nato and the EU.” He added Greenland sought “peaceful dialogue, with a focus on cooperation” and framed the issue as one of “international law and our right to our own country.” The Guardian report notes Donald Trump first raised the idea in 2019 and again before his second term last January, and has intensified his rhetoric this month, saying the US would take the island “one way or the other”.

The president’s comments have prompted what the report called a geopolitical crisis, raised doubts about NATO’s survival for some, and caused anxiety among many of Greenland’s 57,000 residents.

Key Topics

World, Greenland, White House Talks, Jens-frederik Nielsen, Mette Frederiksen, Donald Trump