• Greenland government issued statement Monday rejecting US control under any circumstance
• Trump warned aboard Air Force One that US will acquire territory “one way or the other”
• Six European nations expressed support for Denmark and Greenland against American pressure

NUUK, GREENLAND (TDR) — The self-governing Arctic territory delivered an unambiguous rebuke Monday to escalating American pressure, declaring through its coalition government that no circumstances exist under which Greenland would accept annexation by the United States.

The formal statement emphasized that NATO holds primary responsibility for defending the strategically located island, which maintains membership in the transatlantic alliance through its status as an autonomous Danish territory.

“The United States has once again reiterated its desire to take over Greenland. This is something that the governing coalition in Greenland cannot accept under any circumstance,” the government stated.

Trump Intensifies Acquisition Campaign

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President Donald Trump escalated his territorial ambitions during remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One late Sunday, insisting Washington will secure control of the mineral-rich territory regardless of diplomatic resistance.

“If we don’t take Greenland, Russia or China will, and I’m not letting that happen,” Trump told journalists. When asked whether any negotiated settlement remained possible, he acknowledged preferring diplomatic resolution but added: “One way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland.”

The president dismissed Greenland’s defensive capabilities as consisting of “two dog sleds” while warning that Russian destroyers, submarines, and Chinese naval vessels operate throughout surrounding waters.

Trump’s remarks followed his Friday statement at the White House that Washington would “do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not,” indicating willingness to pursue acquisition the hard way if negotiations fail.

NATO Defense Framework Emphasized

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The Greenlandic statement positioned Arctic defense squarely within existing alliance structures, asserting that all NATO member states share collective security interests in the territory’s protection.

“As part of the Danish commonwealth, Greenland is a member of NATO, and the defence of Greenland must therefore be through NATO,” officials declared.

The government announced intensified efforts to ensure territorial defense operates exclusively through NATO channels, citing supportive declarations from six alliance members that publicly backed Copenhagen and Greenland against American pressure.

France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement expressing solidarity with Denmark amid escalating tensions over Trump’s territorial designs.

Political Leaders United in Opposition

Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and leaders representing all major political parties released a coordinated statement Friday night articulating Greenland’s determination to chart an independent course.

“We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders,” the coalition declared, emphasizing that decisions about the territory’s future belong exclusively to its approximately 57,000 residents.

The unified political response underscored that Greenlandic self-determination proceeds “without pressure for quick decision, delay or interference from other countries,” according to the statement signed by Nielsen and party leaders Pele Broberg, Múte B. Egede, Aleqa Hammond, and Aqqalu C. Jerimiassen.

Strategic and Economic Considerations

Trump has justified his acquisition campaign by emphasizing Greenland’s strategic location between North America and Europe, along with vast mineral deposits including rare earth elements critical for advanced technology and defense applications.

The United States already maintains Pituffik Space Base in northern Greenland, one of only two Arctic facilities available to American military and space operations. The installation provides essential tracking capabilities for polar-orbiting satellites supporting communications, imagery, and weather monitoring systems.

Trump argued that without American ownership, Greenland faces inevitable domination by geopolitical rivals, though neither Russia nor China has articulated claims to the territory.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded to Trump’s justifications by stating that “the rights and freedoms of all countries to conduct activities in the Arctic in accordance with the law should be fully respected,” characterizing American rhetoric as using other nations as pretext for pursuing territorial interests.

NATO Alliance Implications

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned last week that any American military action to seize Greenland would effectively terminate NATO, dismantling eight decades of transatlantic security cooperation.

Trump dismissed such concerns aboard Air Force One, stating: “If it affects NATO, it affects NATO. But you know, they need us much more than we need them.”

The president claimed credit for saving NATO during his first administration while questioning whether alliance members would reciprocate American support during future crises.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Danish and Greenlandic representatives this week in Washington as diplomatic efforts continue despite hardening positions on both sides.

Historical Context and Public Opposition

Denmark ruled Greenland as a colony until 1953, with the territory gaining home rule in 1979. All major political parties support eventual independence, though the timeline and framework remain subjects of ongoing debate.

Polling data indicates approximately 85 percent of Greenlanders oppose American annexation, viewing the island’s future as a matter of self-determination rather than great power competition.

Trump first proposed purchasing Greenland during his initial presidency in 2019, facing immediate rejection from Danish and Greenlandic officials who characterized the territory as not for sale under any circumstances.

Can diplomatic engagement resolve escalating tensions between Washington and its Nordic NATO ally over Greenland’s future?

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