Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited discussions about Greenland’s strategic importance, sparking strong reactions from Denmark and Greenland’s leadership. On Sunday, Trump announced his nomination of former Swedish ambassador Ken Howery as U.S. ambassador to Copenhagen. During this announcement, he reiterated Greenland’s significance, labeling its “ownership and control” as critical for U.S. national security and global freedom.
Trump took to Truth Social, stating, “The United States considers the ownership and control of Greenland to be an absolute necessity for the purposes of National Security and Freedom around the World.”
Trump’s remarks were met with immediate backlash in Denmark and Greenland. Rasmus Jarlov, a member of Denmark’s opposition Conservative Party, emphasized on X (formerly Twitter) that Greenland’s sovereignty is non-negotiable.
“To the extent that U.S. activities aim to take control of Danish territory, this must be prohibited and resisted. Then they cannot be there at all,” Jarlov asserted.
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Mute Egede, echoed this sentiment on Monday, stating unequivocally, “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and we will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom.”
Greenland, an Arctic island rich in minerals, oil, and natural gas, has long been of strategic interest to global powers. Despite its natural resource potential, its economy remains heavily reliant on fishing and annual subsidies from Denmark. The Pituffik Air Base, located in Greenland, plays a critical role in the U.S. ballistic missile early warning system and is positioned along the shortest route from Europe to North America, further underlining its military value.
While Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, it has the right to declare independence under its 2009 Self-Government Act. Despite this, the island’s population of roughly 56,000 has so far opted to remain part of the Danish Kingdom, relying on Copenhagen for substantial financial support.
This isn’t Trump’s first foray into Greenland-related controversies. In 2019, during his presidency, he proposed purchasing Greenland. Denmark and Greenland’s leadership rejected the suggestion outright, with then-Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen calling the proposal “absurd.” Trump responded by canceling a planned visit to Copenhagen, labeling Frederiksen’s reaction “outrageous.” Frederiksen remains Denmark’s Prime Minister to this day.
Greenland, while a part of the Kingdom of Denmark for over 600 years, does not fall under European Union jurisdiction, despite Denmark’s EU membership since 1973. Its unique position in the Arctic continues to make it a focal point for geopolitical and strategic interests.
