Le président américain Donald Trump He reiterated that the United States "needed Greenland," arguing that Denmark could not guarantee the security of this strategic Arctic territory on its own. His statements, made after a meeting in Washington between American, Danish, and Greenlandic officials, confirm the persistence of deep divisions over the island's political future.
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump deemed Greenland "crucial to national security," including that of Denmark, asserting that Washington would be able to act against potential Russian or Chinese threats where Copenhagen would be "powerless." He added that "something will eventually fall into place" regarding the future governance of this autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Earlier in the day, the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland met with the US Secretary of State. Marco Rubio and the vice-president JD Vance at the White House. Following this exchange, they announced the upcoming creation of a working group between Washington and Copenhagen to discuss a wide range of issues related to Greenland.
Danish and Greenlandic officials, however, emphasized that the American position remained unchanged on the acquisition of the territory, which they described as an unacceptable violation of sovereignty. The Danish Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussenadmitted that he had not been able to sway Washington's position, while his Greenlandic colleague Vivian Motzfeldt reaffirmed that the island was "not for sale".
Trump also asserted that NATO would be "far more formidable" if Greenland came under American control, remarks rejected by Copenhagen and Nuuk, which insist on the need to resolve security issues among allies. Denmark and Greenland reiterated that they had already begun strengthening their military presence in the Arctic region, in close cooperation with their Alliance partners.
In Greenland, these statements are fueling anxiety. Local leaders, who recently discussed the prospect of long-term independence, are now emphasizing unity with Denmark in the face of external pressure. The Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen stated that the time was not right to "play with the right to self-determination" while another country openly discusses annexation.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll also shows that Trump's position is not a consensus in the United States: only a minority of Americans support the idea of acquiring Greenland, while a large majority oppose any annexation by force, highlighting the controversial nature of this ambition on the international and domestic stage.
