Danish PM: If the US attacks Greenland, it's the end of NATO and security

(Patria) - Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a stark warning that a possible US attack on Greenland would mean the end of NATO.

"Threats from US President Donald Trump about taking over Greenland should be taken seriously," Frederiksen said in an interview with TV2.

"But I will also clearly state that if the US decides to militarily attack another NATO member state, then everything stops, including NATO and thus the security that has been established since the end of World War II," Frederiksen added, emphasizing that an annexation of the Arctic island would mean that "everything stops."

Donald Trump has long advocated for the mineral-rich island, which is largely autonomous but part of Denmark, to join the US. He calls such a move a strategic necessity, not ruling out the use of force or economic coercion.

"We need Greenland for national security reasons," he told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday.

"We'll deal with Greenland in about two months. Let's talk about Greenland in 20 days," he added, without revealing details about his plans.

Trump's latest statements followed a US action in Venezuela where President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were arrested. That dramatic action raised fears in Europe that Washington might feel emboldened to next annex Greenland.

In response, leaders from Nordic countries to the United Kingdom have pledged their support for Copenhagen and Greenland's right to self-determination.

Trump first openly expressed interest in taking over Greenland back in 2019, during his first term, when he called the idea of buying the Arctic island a "great real estate deal." The proposal then sparked a diplomatic scandal after Denmark dismissed it as absurd, prompting Donald Trump to even cancel an official visit to Copenhagen.

Although initially seen as unserious, Trump's obsession with Greenland has since resurfaced periodically in his public appearances, especially in the context of national security and global competition with China and Russia.

Greenland holds exceptional geostrategic value due to its location in the Arctic, rich deposits of rare minerals, and the key US Thule Air Base, which is part of the American missile defense system. The island has broad autonomy but formally belongs to Denmark, and its residents have debated possible independence for years.

Trump's statements about the possible use of force or economic coercion have further strained relations within the alliance, as any unilateral US action against Greenland would set a precedent within NATO.