Worried Denmark Privately Contacts Trump on Greenland Issue

Nordic country reportedly wanted to dissuade Trump from seizing the Arctic island

Sun Jan 12 2025
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Key points

  • Denmark sent Trump team private messages
  • Nordic nation wanted to address Trump’s security concerns
  • Denmark is Washington’s NATO ally

Islamabad: Denmark has reportedly offered US President-elect Donald Trump to boost US military presence in Greenland.

American news website Axios reported that Denmark sent the Trump team private messages.

According to the report, the Danish government sought to dissuade the US president-elect from seizing the Arctic island.

Denmark also reportedly wanted to address Trump’s security concerns.

The Nordic country is an ally of Washington in NATO and the European Union.

It also wanted to avoid a political clash with the US.

Trump’s threat

In his post on Truth Social in December, Trump described the ownership and control of Greenland as an “absolute necessity” for the US.

He reiterated his desire to make the island part of the US.

Danish PM

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Friday she is seeking talks with Trump regarding his remarks about Greenland.

She said she does not believe the president-elect would attempt to seize the island by force.

Greenland, the world’s largest island, has been an autonomous territory of Denmark since 1979.

Located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, it is home to a US military base and holds strategic importance as it offers the shortest route from North America to Europe.

Denmark boosts Greenland’s defence

The Danish government announced a huge boost in defence spending for Greenland after Trump repeated his desire to purchase the Arctic territory.

According to BBC, Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the package was a “double-digit billion amount” in krone, or at least $1.5bn (£1.2bn).

He described the timing of the announcement as an “irony of fate”. On Monday Trump said ownership and control of the huge island was an “absolute necessity” for the US.

Poulsen said the package would allow for the purchase of two new inspection ships, two new long-range drones and two extra dog sled teams.

 

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