Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned global leaders at the Munich Security Conference that U.S. President Donald Trump remains intent on acquiring Greenland. Despite a recent “framework” deal with NATO intended to lower tensions, Frederiksen stated that Trump’s underlying “desire” to possess the Arctic territory is “exactly the same.” She described the ongoing American pressure on the autonomous island as “unacceptable,” emphasizing that Denmark and Greenland share clear “red lines” regarding sovereignty that will not be crossed.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen criticized President Donald Trump’s interest in owning Greenland during a panel on Arctic security at the Munich Security Conference pic.twitter.com/bmOPukeoV1
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 15, 2026
The strategic friction stems from Greenland’s vast, untapped mineral wealth, including rare earth elements, and its vital location for North American missile defense. Trump has repeatedly framed the island as essential for countering Russian and Chinese influence in the warming Arctic. To manage the crisis, a US-Denmark-Greenland working group was recently established following a “constructive” meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. While the U.S. has dialed back threats of forced annexation or punitive tariffs, Danish officials remain guarded, insisting that any deal must respect Greenlandic autonomy.
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As the Arctic becomes a focal point for superpower rivalry, Frederiksen made it clear that “it isn’t over.” Denmark is open to modernizing the 1951 defense agreement to allow for a larger U.S. footprint, but they refuse to treat the island’s residents as subjects of a real estate transaction.
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