Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Monday lambasted U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed comments that the United States "needs" Greenland, denouncing his remarks as "unacceptable pressure" on the self-governing territory.
In an interview with Danish broadcaster DR, Frederiksen said that she thinks the American president should be taken seriously when he says he wants Greenland, and stressed that both Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly rejected any idea of Greenland becoming part of the United States.
She said that she will defend the right of the people of Greenland to determine their own future.
Asked what it would mean if the United States were to use force against another NATO member, Frederiksen said in such a scenario, "everything stops."
She added that while she cannot account for U.S. actions, there is full support from Europe that borders must be respected.
European leaders have rallied behind Denmark after Trump again floated the idea of acquiring Greenland and called the Arctic territory critical to U.S. defense.
European Commission spokeswoman Anita Hipper on Monday reaffirmed that the European Union (EU) will continue to "uphold the principles of national sovereignty" when asked about the U.S. president's recent remarks on Greenland at the Commission's daily briefing.
The EU will also uphold the principles of territorial integrity, the inviolability of borders and the UN Charter, said Hipper.
She highlighted a post on social media X by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Dec 22, 2025, which said the EU continues to stand in solidarity with Denmark and Greenland. Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and any change to its status must be decided by Greenlanders and Danes, the post said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the BBC that "the future of Greenland is for the Kingdom of Denmark and for Greenland themselves," while stressing Denmark's status as a NATO member.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul noted that Greenland, as part of Denmark, would in principle fall under NATO's collective defense obligations.
Deputy government spokesman Sebastian Hille said in Berlin that Greenland is an autonomously administered territory that belongs to Denmark.
Territories must not be annexed by force, he said, adding that Germany is in close contact with Denmark and its European partners on all issues relating to Greenland.
French Foreign Ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux said that borders cannot be changed by force, expressing solidarity with Denmark in an interview with the French public television channel TF1.
Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the Danes, and it is up to them to decide what to do with it, he said.
Greenland, a former Danish colony, became an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1953. It was granted home rule in 1979, expanding its autonomy, though Denmark retains authority over foreign affairs and defense.
The United States maintains a military base on Greenland.
Since taking office in January 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in gaining control of Greenland, saying that he would not rule out the use of "military or economic coercion" to achieve that goal.
Danish PM calls Trump's Greenland remarks "unacceptable pressure"
Danish PM calls Trump's Greenland remarks "unacceptable pressure"
