Tensions Rise as Trump Declares US Will 'Go as Far as We Have To' for Greenland

Tensions between Denmark and the United States are mounting ahead of US Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Greenland on Friday, following comments by President Donald Trump that signaled renewed American interest in the island.

Speaking on a conservative talk show, Trump suggested that the US would take whatever steps necessary to assert control over Greenland, saying, “It’s an island that from a defensive posture, and even offensive posture, is something we need, especially with the world the way it is, and we’re going to have to have it.”

While he insisted that Vance’s visit was about “friendliness, not provocation,” Trump also stated, “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.”

Danish Leaders Push Back

Trump’s remarks have been met with sharp criticism from Danish leaders, who see them as unwarranted pressure on an allied nation. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected the US president’s stance, saying, “They know very well that Greenland is not for sale … [and] does not want to be part of the United States.”

She praised Greenlanders for resisting US influence, writing on Facebook, “You have not been cowed. You have stood up for who you are – and you have shown what you stand for. That has my deepest respect.”

Denmark’s defence minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, went further, saying Trump’s comments “do not befit” a US president. “I need to clearly speak out against what I see as an escalation from the American side,” he said.

Greenlanders Push Back Against US Visit

Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, has long resisted US attempts to exert influence over the region. Local opposition was evident ahead of JD Vance’s visit, with protests against US involvement.

In an unusual turn of events, Danish media outlet TV2 reported that US representatives had gone door to door in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, trying to find a local family willing to host US Second Lady Usha Vance for a visit. Every family reportedly refused.

This is not the first time Trump has expressed interest in Greenland. During his first term, he made headlines by suggesting the US could purchase the island, a proposal that was quickly dismissed by Denmark as absurd. However, his latest remarks indicate that his administration continues to view Greenland as strategically essential, particularly as Arctic geopolitics become more competitive.

With JD Vance set to visit on Friday, the diplomatic friction between the US, Denmark, and Greenland is unlikely to subside soon.