The Danish government has strongly criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump over renewed comments pushing for American control of Greenland, calling his rhetoric a serious escalation and praising Greenlanders for their resilience.
Trump, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, reiterated his longstanding interest in acquiring Greenland — an autonomous territory of Denmark — citing its strategic importance.
“So, I think we’ll go as far as we have to go. We need Greenland and the world needs us to have Greenland, including Denmark,” he said.
The remarks drew swift backlash from Danish officials. Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen described Trump’s comments as inappropriate and disproportionate, especially in relation to a long-standing U.S. ally.
“I need to clearly speak out against what I see as an escalation from the American side. The tightened rhetoric is in every way far-fetched,” he said.
The controversy comes just ahead of a planned visit by U.S. Vice President JD Vance to Pituffik, where the United States maintains a key military base in northern Greenland.
The trip is seen as part of ongoing efforts by Washington to strengthen its Arctic presence.
However, plans for Vance’s wife, Usha, to attend a popular local event — a dog-sled race — were quietly cancelled after local protests erupted in response to increased U.S. interest in the region.
Denmark has consistently asserted its sovereignty over Greenland and reaffirmed its commitment to the island’s autonomy, while Greenlandic leaders have stood firm against foreign pressure.
The renewed tensions underscore the growing geopolitical interest in the Arctic as nations compete for strategic advantage.
