Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has attempted to moderate public anxiety about President Trump’s territorial threats by insisting that a US conquest is not imminent and urging residents to avoid panic. His reassurance came after forcefully confronting Trump’s pressure campaign, reflecting an effort to balance firm resistance with prevention of public alarm that could destabilize Greenlandic society.
Nielsen stated explicitly that “the situation is not such that the United States can conquer Greenland. That is not the case. Therefore, we must not panic.” This reassurance seeks to counter growing public fears, particularly after Trump’s military intervention in Venezuela demonstrated his willingness to use force to seize control of foreign territories. Nielsen’s message acknowledges legitimate concerns while attempting to maintain public confidence in Greenland’s security and diplomatic protections.
However, Nielsen’s reassurance contrasts with the warning from Greenland’s parliamentary representative, Aaja Chemnitz, who urged Greenlanders to “go into preparation mode” and take Trump’s threats much more seriously. This divergence suggests differing assessments within Greenland’s leadership about the genuine threat level. Chemnitz’s warning that “the people of Greenland should go into preparation mode” indicates concern that Trump’s intentions are more serious than official reassurances might suggest.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a far more alarming warning than Nielsen, stating that any US military action against Greenland would completely destroy NATO and eighty years of transatlantic security cooperation. Her unprecedented ultimatum came after Trump’s seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, establishing a concerning precedent. Trump indicated he would prioritize the Greenland issue within two months while suggesting discussions could begin in approximately three weeks.
Nielsen called for restoration of ” the good cooperation we once had” with the United States and emphasized the need to “try to re-establish contact” with Washington. This diplomatic approach seeks to de-escalate tensions while maintaining Greenland’s principled opposition to annexation. European nations have unified in support, with the EU, Britain, France, and Nordic countries all affirming that only Greenland and Denmark could determine the territory’s future. The crisis escalated when Katie Miller, wife of Trump adviser Stephen Miller, posted imagery depicting Greenland in American flag colors, which Nielsen condemned as disrespectful.
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