Greenland’s Prime Minister Reiterates Preference for Danish Rule

In a recent press conference, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen once again dismissed President Trump’s attempts to purchase the island, stating that he would rather remain under Danish governance.

“If we had to choose between the United States and Denmark right now, we would choose Denmark,” Nielsen asserted, flanked by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

“We choose NATO. We choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We choose the EU,” he added.

Nielsen remarked that “the most difficult part is ahead of us,” further emphasizing his long-standing opposition to Trump’s push for Greenland’s autonomy.

Just before his statements, Nielsen’s office made clear that Greenland would not tolerate U.S. occupation “under any circumstances,” urging NATO to protect the island in the event of an attack.

Recently, White House press secretary Caroline Levitt stated that “using the U.S. military is always an option.” President Trump later echoed this sentiment, insisting, “Whether they like it or not, we’re going to do something in Greenland.” He expressed concern about the possibility of Russian or Chinese domination over Greenland, arguing that it’s a matter of national interest.

This exchange comes before a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, involving Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with the foreign ministers from Denmark and Greenland.

It’s noteworthy that a bipartisan group in Congress is currently considering legislation that could limit Trump’s ability to employ military force to acquire Greenland or attack a NATO ally. “One thing is clear to everyone: Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States,” Nielsen reiterated on Tuesday. “Greenland does not want to be ruled by the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States.”

Denmark has been a NATO member for roughly 75 years, and Frederiksen claimed that Copenhagen has faced “totally unacceptable pressure from its closest ally.”

Greenland has been under Danish administration since 1814, with historical ties going back centuries to both Denmark and Norway. Reflecting on this history, Trump recently remarked, “The fact that they docked their boats there 500 years ago doesn’t mean they own the land.”