By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on Tuesday has warned of a “big problem” after Greenland’s leadership said the island would remain with Denmark, rejected renewed US interest in taking control.
Trump prompted a blunt response a sharp diplomatic exchange has emerged after Greenland’s leadership publicly rejected any move towards the United States.
Greenland Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen said that the island prefers to stay with Denmark.
Trump dismissed the statement and warned it could create “a big problem”.
“Well, that is their problem. I disagree with them. I don’t know who he is. Don’t know anything about him. But that is going to be a big problem for him,” Trump told reporters.
The comments came after renewed pressure from the US President, who has repeatedly spoken about taking control of Greenland, the strategically located Arctic territory.
Nielsen made his position clear during a news conference in Copenhagen alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
“We are now facing a geopolitical crisis, and if we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark,” he said.
Greenland’s coalition government also rejected Washington’s interest outright.
“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 circumstances,” it said.
It added that Greenland’s security framework is already defined.
“As part of the Danish commonwealth, Greenland is a member of NATO, and the defence of Greenland must therefore be through NATO.”
Greenland is the world’s largest island and a self-governing territory within Denmark.
It is also a NATO partner of the United States.
Both Danish and Greenlandic leaders have consistently said the island is not for sale and that its future must be decided by its own people.
US House is set to host talks involving senior officials from all sides.
Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland on Wednesday, media reported.
Trump has framed Greenland as a strategic necessity, warned that inaction could invite rivals.
“We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not,” he said on Saturday.
“If we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland – and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbour.”
He added that Washington would prefer negotiations but left the door open to tougher measures.
“I would like to make a deal the easy way, but if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way,” he concluded.
