Leaders in Greenland have strongly rejected renewed comments by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that Washington will “do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not,” underscoring rising diplomatic tensions over the future of the Arctic territory.
Trump’s remarks, made at a White House meeting with oil executives, reiterated his belief that the United States must act to prevent Russia or China from gaining influence in the Arctic by securing Greenland — a vast, strategically located island that is an autonomous territory of Denmark. Trump said he would prefer to reach an agreement “the easy way,” but warned that if negotiations fail, the U.S. might pursue the matter “the hard way,” without specifying what that could involve.
The suggestion that the U.S. could act unilaterally — or even consider using force — has drawn swift pushback from Greenlandic leaders and European allies. In a united statement, the leaders of five parties in Greenland’s parliament declared: “We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danish, we want to be Greenlanders.” They emphasised that “the future of Greenland must be decided by Greenlanders,” rejecting any outside pressure or intervention.
Denmark, which retains sovereign authority over Greenland’s foreign affairs and defence, has also voiced strong opposition. Danish leaders have warned that any attempt by the U.S. to seize or annex the territory would risk undermining NATO and long-standing transatlantic security ties. European governments have reiterated that decisions about Greenland’s future must respect international law and the rights of its people.
While the U.S. already maintains a military presence on the island under longstanding agreements, the idea of full control — especially by force — has alarmed allies and Greenlandic authorities alike. The episode highlights the growing geopolitical significance of the Arctic region, where shifts in climate, natural resources and global power dynamics are intensifying international interest.
