At the Munich Security Conference, Danish leader Mette Frederiksen pulled no punches about Donald Trump’s fixation on Greenland. The US President’s dream of claiming the massive island persists, she revealed during a Saturday panel discussion.
Frederiksen’s candid assessment came amid heightened global security talks. “The American President is very serious about it. He still wants this island,” she said, signaling no shift in Washington’s position despite diplomatic pushback.
Defending Greenland’s autonomy, she stressed, “We have to protect autonomous nations. We have to protect people’s right to decide for themselves. Greenlanders have been crystal clear: they don’t want to be American.”
Efforts to navigate the impasse include a newly formed trilateral working group involving the US, Denmark, and Greenland, aimed at tackling US Arctic security worries. Frederiksen had previewed this on Friday, calling it progress while firmly stating, “There are red lines that won’t be crossed. We’re staying the course on our strategy.”
Trump’s rhetoric has evolved somewhat. In Davos recently, he ruled out military action for Greenland, a statement that dialed back alarms over potential armament seizures. On the economic front, he also shelved tariff threats against eight European nations post-talks with NATO’s Mark Rutte.
Recall the threats: 10% duties that could jump to 25% if Greenland talks faltered. As the world’s largest island and a self-governing Danish territory—with defense powers vested in Copenhagen—Greenland remains a flashpoint.
Trump’s post-2025 return has seen him double down on acquisition talks, met with unified European resistance. The Arctic’s geopolitical stakes, from rare earth minerals to military positioning, make this more than a territorial spat. Frederiksen’s conference remarks reinforce Denmark’s unyielding defense of its interests.