What World Leaders Have Said About Trump’s Threats to Annex Greenland

As President Donald Trump has renewed his push to annex Greenland in recent weeks, many world leaders have raised vocal objections.

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. But Trump has claimed that the U.S. needs to take control of the island for “national security” reasons and that the European Union also “needs” the U.S. to annex the territory. The Trump Administration has suggested the possibility of using military force to acquire Greenland; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier this month that “utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the Commander-in-Chief’s disposal.” And on Friday, Trump indicated that he may impose tariffs on nations that “don’t go along with” his plans for the territory.

[time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”]

Many European leaders, as well as other political figures around the world, have pushed back on Trump’s plans to take over Greenland, however—and warned that an attack on the territory could have major consequences for the international world order. 

Here’s what world leaders have said on the issue.

Greenland

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen voiced his strong opposition to the possibility of the U.S. taking control of the territory in a social media post earlier this month.

“When the President of the United States talks about ‘we need Greenland’ and connects us with Venezuela and military intervention, it’s not just wrong, it’s so disrespectful,” he said. “Our country is not an object of superpower rhetoric. We are a people. A land. And democracy. This has to be respected. Especially by close and loyal friends.”

The leaders of the territory’s five political parties, including Nielsen, also released a joint statement last week in which they rejected Trump’s remarks on the island by saying, “We do not want to be Americans, we do not want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders.” 

On Tuesday, Nielsen again rebuked Trump, saying at a press conference, “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.”

Denmark

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told broadcasters in her country this month that Trump’s comments about taking control of Greenland “should be taken seriously.” Frederiksen also warned that “If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops,” saying that such an aggressive action would mark the end of NATO.

“We will not accept a situation where we and Greenland are threatened in this way,” she said.

On Wednesday, Denmark said that it was strengthening its military presence on and around the island.

France

In December, French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X that he “reaffirmed France’s unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland,” adding that “Greenland belongs to its people. Denmark stands as its guarantor.”

Earlier this month, Macron joined six other European leaders, including Frederiksen, in signing a joint statement that said, “Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”

France was also among several European allies that dispatched military personnel to Greenland; Macron said on Wednesday that French military troops were “already on their way” there, and that more would arrive in the coming days.

Italy

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was among the seven European leaders who signed onto the joint statement earlier this month that defended Greenland’s sovereignty. Last week, she said that she didn’t believe the Trump Administration would take military action to annex the territory, adding that Italy wouldn’t back an operation like that.

Meloni, one of Trump’s closest allies on the continent, emphasized that “international law must be fully defended,” though when a reporter asked her about Trump’s policies, she replied, “I don’t understand what you’re asking when you say Italy must distance itself from the United States.”

Poland

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also signed onto the joint statement by European leaders this month. 

On Thursday, Tusk said that Poland won’t send military troops to Greenland, unlike some other European allies. But he cautioned that a U.S. military operation there would be calamitous.

“An attempt to take over (part of) a NATO member state by another NATO member state would be a political disaster,” he said at a press conference. “It would be the end of the world as we know it, which guaranteed a world based on NATO solidarity, which held back the evil forces associated with communist terror or other forms of aggression.”

Spain

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended Greenland’s sovereignty in a post on X in December.

“Respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity is central to the EU and to all nations of the world. Security in the Arctic is a priority on which we seek to work with allies and partners,” he wrote. “We convey our full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland.”

Sánchez also joined the other European leaders in signing the statement earlier this month that supported Greenland’s sovereignty.

Germany

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was among the European leaders who signed the joint statement this month, and Germany was one of several allied European countries that said they would send military personnel to the territory.

The United Kingdom

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was among the seven European leaders to sign onto the joint statement, has also reaffirmed Greenland’s sovereignty.

“Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark must decide the future of Greenland and only Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark,” he told the BBC earlier this month.

One British military officer is being sent to Greenland, along with troops from other European allies, “at the request of the Danish government,” U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said this week.

Sweden

Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in a post on X on Tuesday that “We stand behind Denmark and Greenland.” The following day, he announced that several officers from the Swedish Armed Forces would arrive in Greenland shortly, as part of a group from several allied nations and at the request of Denmark.

Canada

Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Beijing on Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney backed Denmark and Greenland.

“The future of Greenland is a decision for Greenland and for the Kingdom of Denmark,” Carney said, calling on NATO allies to “respect their commitments.”