Danish Prime Minister Tells Greenlanders: ‘You have not been cowed’ by Trump
Ahead of a visit from JD Vance and other American officials, Denmark's Prime Minister warns Greenlanders that President Donald Trump's interest in Greenland "is not going away."
TroibNews 
Denmark's Prime Minister has commended Greenlanders for their resilience against President Donald Trump's attempts to acquire the Arctic island, indicating that his interest in Greenland persists.
On social media, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen shared her thoughts Wednesday, just ahead of U.S. Vice President JD Vance and other officials' visit to an American military base in Greenland's remote north.
“The attention is overwhelming and the pressure is great,” Frederiksen said. “But it is in times like these that you show what you are made of. You have not been cowed. You have stood up for who you are — and you have shown what you stand for. That has my deepest respect.”
As an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland is inhabited by approximately 56,000 Danish citizens. Trump's repeated and at times aggressive comments about acquiring the island, even by force, have caused concern in Copenhagen, a traditional U.S. ally.
Frederiksen cautioned that Trump’s objectives have not wavered and that he remains undeterred. “That much was clear from what he has said publicly several times, most recently again today,” she remarked, referencing Trump's assertion in a radio interview that the U.S. will “have” Greenland.
She further noted that Washington would pursue its interests irrespective of Denmark's stance. “They [the U.S.] know that Greenland is not for sale,” the Danish leader stated. “They know that Greenland does not want to be part of the United States. This has been communicated to them unequivocally both directly and in public.”
The upcoming visit by Vice President Vance to Pituffik Space Base comes as a replacement for an earlier itinerary that included a stop in Greenland's capital, Nuuk, and attendance at a dog-sled race featuring Second Lady Usha Vance.
The original plan was scrapped following objections from Danish and Greenlandic officials, who were critical of the timing, as it followed Greenland's elections and occurred during coalition negotiations.
Protests by Greenlanders in response to the American delegation were also planned, adding to a series of demonstrations against Trump's acquisition intentions. Frederiksen characterized the canceled visit as “unacceptable pressure.”
Nevertheless, she acknowledged that Vice President Vance made a valid point when he criticized Denmark for “not doing its job” regarding Arctic security. “When Vice President Vance, for example, says that neither the United States nor Denmark has done enough for security around Greenland, that is not wrong,” she said. “That is why we have changed our defense policy."
Earlier this year, Denmark unveiled plans to invest billions of euros to enhance its Arctic defenses.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
On social media, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen shared her thoughts Wednesday, just ahead of U.S. Vice President JD Vance and other officials' visit to an American military base in Greenland's remote north.
“The attention is overwhelming and the pressure is great,” Frederiksen said. “But it is in times like these that you show what you are made of. You have not been cowed. You have stood up for who you are — and you have shown what you stand for. That has my deepest respect.”
As an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland is inhabited by approximately 56,000 Danish citizens. Trump's repeated and at times aggressive comments about acquiring the island, even by force, have caused concern in Copenhagen, a traditional U.S. ally.
Frederiksen cautioned that Trump’s objectives have not wavered and that he remains undeterred. “That much was clear from what he has said publicly several times, most recently again today,” she remarked, referencing Trump's assertion in a radio interview that the U.S. will “have” Greenland.
She further noted that Washington would pursue its interests irrespective of Denmark's stance. “They [the U.S.] know that Greenland is not for sale,” the Danish leader stated. “They know that Greenland does not want to be part of the United States. This has been communicated to them unequivocally both directly and in public.”
The upcoming visit by Vice President Vance to Pituffik Space Base comes as a replacement for an earlier itinerary that included a stop in Greenland's capital, Nuuk, and attendance at a dog-sled race featuring Second Lady Usha Vance.
The original plan was scrapped following objections from Danish and Greenlandic officials, who were critical of the timing, as it followed Greenland's elections and occurred during coalition negotiations.
Protests by Greenlanders in response to the American delegation were also planned, adding to a series of demonstrations against Trump's acquisition intentions. Frederiksen characterized the canceled visit as “unacceptable pressure.”
Nevertheless, she acknowledged that Vice President Vance made a valid point when he criticized Denmark for “not doing its job” regarding Arctic security. “When Vice President Vance, for example, says that neither the United States nor Denmark has done enough for security around Greenland, that is not wrong,” she said. “That is why we have changed our defense policy."
Earlier this year, Denmark unveiled plans to invest billions of euros to enhance its Arctic defenses.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
