MUNICH, Germany – Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen firmly stated on Saturday that Greenland is “not for sale,” rebuffing potential acquisition by the United States and characterizing the pressure on the autonomous Danish territory as “unacceptable.” The remarks, delivered at the Munich Security Conference, came as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to express interest in the strategically located island.
Frederiksen’s comments followed a question regarding whether a price could be placed on Greenland, to which she responded with a definitive “Of course not.” She underscored the importance of respecting the sovereignty of nations and the right to self-determination for their people. “The people of Greenland have made it highly clear they do not aim for to be American, they want to be Greenlandic,” she stated, according to reports from CCTV News.
The Danish Prime Minister acknowledged that President Trump’s position on Greenland remains unchanged, despite previous reports suggesting a softening of his stance. She indicated a continued disagreement with the U.S. Administration on the matter. According to China News, Frederiksen revealed that Trump “still hopes to control Greenland.”
Frederiksen emphasized that Denmark is willing to cooperate with the United States, but that certain principles are non-negotiable, specifically regarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. She warned that Greenland’s current situation, facing external pressure, is unprecedented. “The people of Greenland have never been threatened by anyone before, and therefore the pressure they are facing right now is unacceptable,” she said, as reported by China News.
The issue has prompted diplomatic discussions, including a meeting on February 13 between Frederiksen, Greenland’s Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Munich. While described as “constructive” by Danish officials, reports suggest the meeting did not yield substantial progress. Frederiksen indicated that negotiations are ongoing, but that Denmark has established “red lines” that cannot be crossed.
Earlier, in December 2025, President Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenland, citing the island’s importance to U.S. National security. Landry publicly stated his intention to make Greenland “part of the United States,” a move that drew criticism from the European Union, Norway, Denmark, and Greenland itself, according to Xinhua News.
Frederiksen and Nielsen also expressed their willingness to expand cooperation with NATO in areas such as defense. The situation highlights the growing strategic importance of the Arctic region, and the potential for increased geopolitical competition.
