'Greenland is not for sale' Denmark's Frederiksen reminds Trump

Published on 08/07/2026 - 9:18 GMT+2•Updated

9:35

Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Greenland was "not for sale" after renewed comments by Donald Trump suggesting the Arctic territory should be controlled by Washington rather than Copenhagen.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit in Turkey, Frederiksen said she believed the US position had become increasingly explicit.

"I heard the US president yesterday and I think the US position is unfortunately very clear on this topic. Our position is as clear as it has been all through: Greenland is, of course, not for sale," she said.

The remarks underscore the continuing disagreement between Denmark and the United States over the future of Greenland.

Frederiksen said Denmark and Greenland expected their allies to respect the island's future, adding: "We hope that all, including all allies, will respect the Greenland people right for self-determination."

She also stressed Denmark's sovereignty, saying: "We are sovereign states and we need everybody to respect our territorial integrity and our sovereignty."

Frederiksen added that Denmark was "ready to defend every inch of NATO including our own territory" and expected fellow members of the alliance to honour their collective defence commitments.

The dispute intensified in March when JD Vance visited the US military's Pituffik Space Base in Greenland after plans for a broader trip were scaled back following criticism from Greenland leaders.

During the visit, Vance accused Denmark of underinvesting in Greenland's security, while arguing the Arctic territory was strategically important because of growing Russian and Chinese activity in the region.

Trump has repeatedly said the US should control Greenland, citing national and international security concerns, but both Denmark and Greenland have consistently rejected any suggestion that the island could be transferred to Washington.

Additional sources • AFP, AP