Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has delivered a stark warning to the US president, Donald Trump, stating that Denmark is not for sale and that they will not give up control of their autonomous territory of Greenland. Frederiksen and Trump met at the White House to discuss the potential for a US-Arctic treaty, but the meeting became tense when Trump’s repeated references to buying Greenland led to a heated exchange.
In a statement to the press after the meeting, Frederiksen emphasized the long-standing autonomy of Greenland and the country’s commitment to maintaining its sovereignty. “We don’t need another colonial power to buy us,” she stated. “We are a self-governing country in the European rights tradition, and we will not be bought, sold, or bargained.”
Frederiksen also rejected Trump’s suggestion that the US could purchase Greenland, saying, “The void of Greenland is not available for sale. It is an integral part of Denmark and we will not let it be bought or sold.”
Aside from these specific issues, Frederiksen and Trump also discussed development of the North Sea, a vital area for both countries’ economies, as well as the United States’ participation in international climate agreements and the role of Arctic resources in addressing the global energy crisis. The two leaders reaffirmed their bilateral commitment to strengthening relations and further cooperation in these areas.
The Danish prime minister’s decision to deny the possibility of a US-Greenland deal leaves the door closed, at least for now, on a potential Norwegian-American acquisition; and two countries will now focus on other opportunities for cooperation and diplomacy.