Select Language:
US President Donald Trump spoke to the press before leaving for Florida from the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, D.C., on January 16, 2026. — Reuters
– U.S. lawmakers visit Denmark to support Copenhagen and Greenland.
– Denmark firmly rejects Trump’s proposal to take over Greenland.
– Most Americans reportedly do not endorse the plan.
—
COPENHAGEN: On Friday, President Donald Trump warned he might impose tariffs on countries that oppose his intentions to take control of Greenland, amid a visit from a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers to Copenhagen, where they voiced support for Denmark and Greenland.
The delegation, in Denmark for two days, emphasized that Trump’s longstanding territorial ambitions—strongly rejected by Denmark—do not reflect the views of the American public.
European nations have also shown support for Greenland, particularly through a military reconnaissance operation that a Danish general said Washington was invited to, linked to Russia’s activities following the Ukraine conflict.
Trump reiterated that the U.S. needs mineral-rich Greenland for national security reasons and warned of potential tariffs against countries opposing this stance.
During their visit, the 11 U.S. lawmakers met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, as well as Denmark’s foreign and defense ministers, lawmakers, and business leaders.
Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican, described the discussions as constructive, stressing the importance of strengthening ties between the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland. She mentioned that the majority of Americans do not support the idea of the U.S. acquiring Greenland, emphasizing that Greenland should be viewed as a partner, not a commodity.
Following a recent meeting in Washington where Denmark expressed fundamental disagreements over Greenland’s future, Democratic Senator Chris Coons explained that the visit was about listening to allies and sharing perspectives to promote more constructive dialogue.
In Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, residents responded positively to the show of American support. A union representative, 39, told AFP, “Congress would never approve military action in Greenland. That’s just one fool speaking.” They added that if Trump attempted such an action, he would face impeachment or removal and called on Congress to defend democracy.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Denmark, a NATO ally, for allegedly not doing enough to secure Greenland, despite the island being shielded by NATO’s collective security umbrella.
Major General Soren Andersen, head of Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command, said the U.S. was invited to the military activities there, which he said were focused on Russia. He explained that Russia might shift resources to the Arctic after the Ukraine war concludes and that Denmark is stepping up training and military presence to prepare.
Andersen noted that no Russian or Chinese warships have been sighted in the region over his two and a half years as commander. Observers noted increased military activity in Nuuk recently, as Denmark announced strengthened defense measures.
The White House said Trump’s goal to take over Greenland wouldn’t be hindered by European military efforts, which France’s armed forces minister Alice Rifo described as a sign of Europe’s readiness to defend sovereignty. Several countries, including Britain, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, are deploying troops for Arctic exercises.
Protests against Trump’s Greenland plans are scheduled across Denmark and Greenland this Saturday. Thousands have expressed intent to join demonstrations organized by Greenlandic groups in Nuuk, Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, and Odense.
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Gemini AI
Grok AI
