Denmark’s Prime Minister Plans Trip to Greenland as Battle Over Territory Grows

What Happened?

Denmark’s prime minister plans to travel to Greenland this week just days after Vice President JD Vance visited in a battle for control over the Arctic island.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's announcement comes amid President Donald Trump's continued interest in the island becoming a part of the U.S.

Frederiksen will 'discuss the cooperation between Greenland and Denmark' according to a release translated by outlets.

Greenland’s government announced an agreement last week on a coalition to show unity amid Trump’s increased threats to acquire the territory.

'President Trump says that the United States “will get Greenland.” Let me be clear: The United States will not get it,' Greenland Prime Minster Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a Facebook post. 'We do not belong to anyone else. We decide our own future.'

But Trump told NBC News that he 'absolutely' had conversations about annexing the semi-autonomous Danish territory and hasn't ruled out any methods to do so.

'I don’t take anything off the table,' Trump said.

He added there’s a 'good possibility that we could do it without military force.'

Why it Matters

Vance told the people of Greenland during his recent trip to the Pituffik military space base that they’d be better off being part of the U.S. than Denmark.

He added that the U.S. respects Greenland’s sovereignty, despite Trump’s renewed remarks that have worried allies.

'What we think is going to happen is that the Greenlanders are going to choose, through self-determination, to become independent of Denmark,' Vance said.

The Trump administration has focused blame on Denmark’s security responsibility, claiming they 'have not done their job' in keeping Greenland safe.

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen called Trump's statements an escalation after claiming that the U.S. is willing to 'go as far as we have to go' for control.

Vance suggested that global security is at stake as Russian and Chinese presence grows in the Arctic.

'You have ships sailing outside Greenland from Russia, from China, and from many other places. And we’re not going to allow things to happen that are going to be — that are going to hurt the world or the United States,' Trump told NBC News.

The Pituffik military space base reportedly is a critical front line in missile defense, missile warning, and space surveillance.

How it Affects You

Greenland and the Panama Canal have been big targets for Trump as he ensures the motives are for economic security, in addition to rare resources.

But almost all Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the U.S., according to opinion polls and recent protests.

The Trump administration could still invoke tariffs and extreme measures should Denmark refuse to sell.

A lot could be at stake amid key ally relationships as control over the island has intensified.