Denmark grapples with an unprecedented diplomatic challenge as former U.S. President Donald Trump threatens to acquire Greenland.
According to BBC, Trump has escalated tensions by threatening Denmark with high tariffs if it refuses to give up Greenland, and has not ruled out the possibility of using military force to seize the territory.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and other top officials have been conducting emergency meetings throughout the week to address the situation. Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede flew to Copenhagen for urgent consultations with both Frederiksen and King Frederik X, while party leaders across Denmark's political spectrum gathered for an extraordinary crisis meeting in parliament.
Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen emphasized the gravity of the situation while attempting to avoid escalation. The government's measured response reflects lessons learned from a 2019 incident when Trump canceled a visit to Denmark after Frederiksen dismissed his proposal to buy Greenland as "absurd."
Prime Minister Frederiksen has consistently referred to the U.S. as "Denmark's closest partner" while maintaining that Greenland's future lies in the hands of its people. This stance has drawn criticism from opposition MP Rasmus Jarlov, who believes the response should have been more forceful.
The crisis has sparked concerns beyond Denmark's borders, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot expressing strong support for Denmark's territorial sovereignty.
Danish Industry CEO Lars Sandahl Sorensen has called for calm despite the looming economic threats. A 2024 study indicates that Denmark's GDP could drop by three percentage points if the U.S. implements a 10% tariff on EU imports.
Conservative MP Rasmus Jarlov told the BBC:
This level of disrespect from the coming US president towards very, very loyal allies and friends is record-setting.
The situation is particularly complex given Greenland's growing independence movement and its economic dependence on Denmark. Currently, 60% of Greenland's economy relies on Danish support, despite having significant autonomy in domestic affairs.
Green Left MP Karsten Honge's assessment of the situation highlights Denmark's vulnerable position in the face of potential U.S. military action. His concerns reflect broader anxieties about international agreements and diplomatic norms under a potential second Trump presidency.
The crisis has become a focal point for European concerns about Trump's approach to international relations. EU leaders view the situation as a test case for how the bloc might handle similar challenges in the future.
Trade industry professionals are actively preparing contingency plans, although enforcing targeted tariffs against Danish products specifically would prove challenging within the EU trading framework.
The unprecedented threat to Danish sovereignty over Greenland has created a complex diplomatic scenario involving Denmark, Greenland, and the United States. Trump's suggestion of military intervention and economic penalties has forced Danish officials to balance their responses between maintaining U.S. relations and protecting territorial integrity. As Trump's inauguration approaches, Denmark faces uncertainty about the future of its autonomous territory while preparing for potential economic and diplomatic challenges that could reshape Nordic-American relations.
