Denmark, US set to discuss Arctic security after Trump’s Greenland ultimatum

In a tense 45-minute phone conversation last week, US President Donald Trump reiterated his serious intent to acquire Greenland, senior European officials said.

The call with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen left a negative impression, as Trump became aggressive after Frederiksen emphasized that Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, was not for sale. While Frederiksen acknowledged the US’ “big interest” in the island, she firmly rejected the idea of selling it, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Five senior European officials briefed on the call revealed that the conversation became confrontational after Frederiksen’s stance.

"It was horrendous,” one official commented, while another added, “He was very firm. It was a cold shower. Before, it was hard to take it seriously. But I do think it is serious, and potentially very dangerous.” The details of the call are expected to heighten concerns that Trump's second term could severely strain transatlantic relations, as he applies pressure on allies to relinquish territory.

Trump’s comments about Greenland are part of a broader strategy where he has also mused about taking control of the Panama Canal and even Canada. Many European officials had initially thought that his talk of acquiring Greenland for “national security” reasons was a negotiating tactic to gain influence over the Arctic. However, the call with Frederiksen has dashed those hopes, deepening the foreign policy rift with NATO allies.

“The intent was very clear. They want it. The Danes are now in crisis mode,” one official stated. “The Danes are utterly freaked out by this,” another added. A former Danish official described the call as "very tough," with Trump threatening measures such as targeted tariffs.

The Danish Prime Minister's office denied the characterization of the call, stating that they did not recognize the interpretation given by anonymous sources. Meanwhile, Greenland, with a population of just 57,000, has become an increasingly strategic location due to new shipping routes and valuable minerals. A White House National Security Council spokesperson reiterated that Trump is committed to protecting US interests in the Arctic and ensuring mutual prosperity with Greenland.

Frederiksen, who recently met with executives from major Danish companies like Novo Nordisk and Carlsberg to discuss Trump’s threats, told Denmark’s TV2, “There is no doubt that there is great interest in and around Greenland. Based on the conversation I had today, there is no reason to believe that it should be less than what we have heard in the public debate.”

Meanwhile, On January 24, Denmark agreed to engage in discussions with the United States regarding the Arctic region, following a phone call between Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

According to the Danish Foreign Ministry, the 20-minute conversation was held in a "good and constructive tone" and covered a range of topics, including Ukraine, European security, and the situation in the Middle East.

The US State Department later confirmed that Secretary Rubio had “reaffirmed the strength of the relationship” between the two nations during the call. The discussion comes amidst ongoing tensions surrounding President Donald Trump’s expressed interest in Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, which he has suggested might become part of the United States. Trump has not ruled out using military or economic pressure to persuade Denmark to cede control of the island.

Greenland's strategic location—along the shortest route between Europe and North America—has made it a priority for the US, particularly for its importance to the U.S. ballistic missile warning system. This geopolitical significance has driven Trump’s interest in the territory.

On January 15, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen spoke with Trump and reiterated that Greenland’s future, including any potential move toward independence, should be determined by the island’s own people.

Although Arctic security was not formally on the agenda for the January 24 conversation, the Danish Ministry stated that it was agreed that discussions involving the United States, Denmark, and Greenland would take place at a later date.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede, who has intensified calls for the island’s independence, has consistently emphasized that Greenland is not for sale and that its people must decide their future. While Trump had previously raised the possibility of acquiring Greenland in 2019 during his first term, his recent refusal to rule out the use of military or economic power has taken many Danes by surprise.

Denmark agreed on January 24 to discuss the Arctic region with Washington, Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said, after his first phone call with the top diplomat of the administration of President Donald Trump, who wants control of Greenland.

Rasmussen and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a 20-minute conversation in a “good and constructive tone”, discussing Ukraine, European security and the situation in the Middle East, the Danish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The State Department said late on January 24 that Rubio had “reaffirmed the strength of the relationship” between the two countries in the call.

Trump has expressed an interest in making Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, part of the United States. He has not ruled out using military or economic power to persuade Denmark to hand it over.

Greenland’s strategic location along the shortest route from Europe to North America, vital for the US ballistic missile warning system, has made it a priority for Trump.

By Vafa Guliyeva