Danish PM tells US ‘you cannot annex another country’ on Greenland visit

Denmark’s Prime Minister is wrapping up her three-day visit to Greenland after telling the US “you cannot annex another country” – even when it comes to questions of international security.

Mette Frederiksen travelled to the strategically critical Arctic island as US President Donald Trump spoke about taking control of it.

He argues that Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory belonging to the Kingdom of Denmark, is critical to US security.

A week ago, American vice president JD Vance visited a remote US military base in Greenland and accused Denmark of underinvesting in the territory.

“Threats”

Ms Frederiksen pushed back against the US criticism as she spoke on Thursday alongside Greenland’s incoming and outgoing leaders. She argued that Denmark, a Nato ally, has been a reliable friend.

Speaking in English, she said that “if we let ourselves be divided as allies, then we do our foes a favour. And I will do everything that I can to prevent that from happening”.

She added: “When you ask our businesses to invest in the US, they do. When you ask us to spend more on our defence, we do. And when you ask of us to strengthen security in the Arctic, we are on the same page.

“But when you demand to take over a part of the Kingdom of Denmark’s territory, when we are met by pressure and by threats from our closest ally, what are we to believe in about the country that we have admired for so many years?

“This is about the world order that we have built together across the Atlantic over generations: you cannot annex another country, not even with an argument about international security.”

Independence

The Danish leader said that, if the US wants to strengthen security in the Arctic, “let us do so together”.

Political parties in Greenland, which has been leaning toward eventual independence from Denmark for years, last week agreed to form a broad-based new coalition government in the face of Mr Trump’s designs on the territory. Those have angered many in Greenland and Denmark.

In an interview with Newsmax on Thursday, Mr Vance repeated the accusation that Denmark has “really underinvested in the infrastructure and security of Greenland”.

He said Mr Trump’s point is that “this matters to our security, this matters to our missile defence, and we’re going to protect America’s interests come hell or high water”.