MP: Denmark and US could be on brink of war over Greenland’s future

Tensions between Denmark and the United States could escalate into a war over the future of Greenland, following the possibility of the island’s forced accession to the US.

This warning was issued by Rasmus Jarlov, chairman of the Defenсe Committee of the Danish Parliament, on the social media platform X, per Caliber.Az.

“We do not appreciate the Secr. Gen. of NATO joking with Trump about Greenland like this. It would mean war between two NATO countries. Greenland has just voted against immediate independence from Denmark and does not want to be American ever,” Jarlov wrote.

We do not appreciate the Secr. Gen. of NATO joking with Trump about Greenland like this. It would mean war between two NATO countries. Greenland has just voted against immediate independence from Denmark and does not want to be American ever.pic.twitter.com/eh7enEHoA8

— Rasmus Jarlov (@RasmusJarlov) March 13, 2025

This statement follows a surprising outcome in Greenland’s parliamentary elections, where the centre-right opposition party, Demokraatit (The Democrats), won a notable victory. The results indicated that voters, in large part, rejected US President Donald Trump’s offer to take control of Greenland, a proposal that had drawn international attention and sparked tension with Denmark.

Demokraatit, a pro-business party that favours gradual independence from Denmark, secured 29.9 percent of the vote, a significant rise from just 9 per cent in 2021. The party’s success contrasts with the pro-independence Naleraq (Point of Orientation), which garnered 24.5 per cent, while Inuit Ataqatigiit (Community of the People), once the predicted front-runner, placed third. This shift in political power suggests that Greenland’s residents prefer a slower path toward independence, rejecting Trump’s aggressive push for the island to immediately separate from Denmark and join the United States.

Ahead of the election, President Trump made an offer to Greenland, promising to invest billions of dollars to create jobs and boost the island’s economy. On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote, “We are ready to INVEST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to create new jobs and MAKE YOU RICH.”

The strategic significance of Greenland in the Arctic, along with its rich untapped mineral resources, had made it a focal point for Trump during his first term, even leading him to suggest purchasing the island. “We need Greenland for national security. One way or the other we’re gonna get it,” he stated during a recent address to the US Congress. However, both Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly rejected these overtures.

Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the leader of Demokraatit, described the election outcome as a “historic result in Greenland’s political history” and expressed his party’s satisfaction with the unexpected victory. “We had not expected that the election would have this outcome,” the 33-year-old leader said. “We are very happy.”

Of the five main parties in the election, four expressed support for independence, though they differed on the timeline and specifics of how to achieve it. Currently, Greenland governs its domestic affairs independently, but decisions regarding foreign and defence policy are still made in Copenhagen.

Polls show that up to 84 per cent of Greenland’s 56,000 residents support independence in principle, further solidifying the island’s desire to maintain control over its future and avoid foreign intervention.

By Tamilla Hasanova