Denmark rejects Trump’s renewed push for U.S. control of Greenland

Denmark pushed back on President Donald Trump’s renewed bid for U.S. control of Greenland on Wednesday, adding a territorial dispute to the agenda of a NATO summit already focused on alliance security. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in Ankara that Denmark was prepared to defend its territory, including the self-governing Danish territory of Greenland.

Speaking to reporters on the second day of the NATO summit in Turkey’s capital, Frederiksen said Denmark’s position had not changed. “Greenland is, of course, not for sale,” she said.

Her remarks followed Trump’s latest comments on the Arctic territory. The U.S. president has again said he wants to seek control of Greenland and suggested the United States could withdraw troops from Europe if European countries continue to oppose the idea, according to CNBC.

The exchange places an allied territorial question alongside NATO’s core security discussions. Denmark is a NATO member, and Frederiksen framed her response in terms of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right of Greenlanders to decide their own future.

“We hope that all, including all allies, will respect the Greenlandic people’s right for self-determination and we are a sovereign state, and we need everybody to respect our territorial integrity and our sovereignty,” Frederiksen said.

Asked by CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick whether Denmark would defend Greenland militarily if it were attacked, Frederiksen replied: “We are ready to defend every inch of NATO, including our own territory.”

Trump made his latest remarks during the NATO gathering in Ankara. In a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday, he said Europe’s refusal to support his Greenland objective was “what hurt my relationship with NATO.”

Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Frederiksen’s comments emphasized that any discussion over the island’s status must respect Greenlandic self-determination as well as Denmark’s sovereignty.

The dispute also underscores how U.S. security commitments in Europe can become entangled with bilateral political demands. Trump’s suggestion that U.S. forces could be removed from Europe ties the Greenland issue to the broader military presence that underpins NATO planning on the continent.

No market reaction was reported in connection with Frederiksen’s comments. The immediate effect was diplomatic: Denmark publicly rejected the U.S. president’s renewed pressure and insisted that allies respect existing borders and Greenland’s political rights.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.