Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated today that Greenland “is not for sale” following renewed pressure from US President Donald Trump, declaring that Denmark stands ready to defend “every inch” of NATO territory, including the autonomous island.
Arriving for the second and final day of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Frederiksen was questioned by reporters regarding Trump’s statements from the previous day. The US President had doubled down on his demands that Washington should control Greenland and threatened a full withdrawal of American troops from Europe over the dispute.
Frederiksen rejected the rhetoric, emphasizing that Greenland is a semi-autonomous Danish territory. “Greenland is not for sale,” she stated, adding that she expects “all allies to respect the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination.”
“We are a sovereign people and we need everyone to respect our territorial integrity,” the Prime Minister noted.
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When pressed on whether Denmark is prepared to use military force to defend Greenland, Frederiksen responded firmly: “We are prepared to defend every inch of NATO, including our territory.”
The Prime Minister reminded allies that the foundational principle of the Atlantic Alliance dictates that an attack on one is an attack on all, as enshrined in Article 5 of the NATO Treaty. She noted that Article 5 is currently vital for the alliance’s eastern flank amid the war in Ukraine, just as it was activated to support the United States following the September 11 terrorist attacks. It would likewise apply to Greenland “if something were to happen,” she affirmed.
When asked if she believes the United States remains committed to this mutual defense clause under the current administration, Frederiksen replied, “I have not heard that the US is not committed.”
“I would not be able to keep my people safe without NATO, and I think the same applies to the US,” she added. “It is because of NATO that our transatlantic community can remain secure, and that will continue in the future.”
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Frederiksen called for a “stronger NATO” to navigate a shifting global landscape, listing her core priorities as rearming Europe, building a more robust transatlantic defense industrial base, and intensifying allied support for Ukraine. “We all know these are difficult times, and therefore, our unity in this world is more important than ever,” she said.
Also arriving at the summit, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney noted an ongoing shift in alliance responsibilities, with European nations and Canada steadily ramping up their defense contributions.
Carney pointed out that this rebalancing of the defense burden, which effectively reduces reliance on US investment, was a direction previously advocated by former US President Barack Obama and remains “appropriate.”
When questioned about recent US military strikes against Iranian targets, Carney stated that Iran has been acting irresponsibly and characterized the American actions as an “appropriate response.”
