Pentagon shuts down speculation over military plans for Greenland

The Pentagon has stated that it has no knowledge of any plans to seize Greenland, despite recent suggestions from US President-elect Donald Trump about potentially annexing the island, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Speaking at a briefing, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh addressed the issue, saying, “I’m certainly not going to get into hypothetical situations. I think that’s a matter for the new administration. We are concerned about the real national security issues that we face in this building every day.”

Singh further clarified, “I’m not aware of any plans to [militarily] take over Greenland.”

Trump recently stirred controversy by posting an image on Truth Social depicting a map of North America with Canada and Greenland annexed into US territory. The map included labels for the United States, Canada, and Greenland, with capitals Washington and Nuuk marked, but the post offered no explanation for its intent.

This is not the first time Trump has expressed interest in Greenland. During his first presidential term in 2019, he called the island of strategic importance for Arctic security, suggesting the US purchase of the territory. At the time, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen dismissed the idea as “absurd,” leading to the cancellation of Trump’s planned state visit to Denmark.

In light of Trump’s renewed comments, Frederiksen reiterated Denmark’s stance in a more diplomatic tone, saying, “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.” She added that Greenland’s future would be determined by its people, emphasizing her government’s commitment to that principle.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede responded firmly, stating that the island’s independence and future are matters for Greenlanders alone. “Danes, Americans, and everyone else can have their opinions, but we will not succumb to hysteria or finger-pointing. Our future is ours, and it will be determined by us,” Egede declared.

Meanwhile, a recent survey conducted by the Danish sociological institute Voxmeter revealed overwhelming opposition to Trump’s proposal among Danes. According to the survey, 89.2% of respondents rejected the idea of Greenland becoming part of the United States, with only 4.5% in favour and 6.3% undecided.

The issue has reignited discussions about Greenland’s strategic significance and its autonomy as a territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. However, both Danish and Greenlandic leaders remain resolute in their stance that Greenland’s future lies firmly in the hands of its own people.

By Tamilla Hasanova