Greenland prime minister says 'enough' after latest Trump threat

"That's enough now," Greenland's Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen said after repeated threats from US President Donald Trump to annex the autonomous Danish territory.

"No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation, Nielsen wrote on Facebook late Sunday.

"We are open to dialogue. We are open to discussions. But this must happen through the proper channels and with respect for international law," the head of Greenland's government said.

Washington's unprecedented operation in Venezuela resulting in the capture of Nicolas Maduro has reignited fears for Greenland, which Trump has said he wants to annex, given its strategic location in the Arctic.

On Sunday, Trump doubled down on his claim that Greenland should become part of the United States, despite calls by the leaders of Denmark and Greenland — the Kingdom of Denmark's autonomous territory — to stop "threatening" the territory.

While aboard Air Force One en route to Washington, Trump reiterated the goal.

"We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it," he said in response to a reporter's question.

"We'll worry about Greenland in about two months... let's talk about Greenland in 20 days."

Over the weekend, the Danish prime minister called on Washington to stop "threatening its historical ally".

"I have to say this very clearly to the United States: it is absolutely absurd to say that the United States should take control of Greenland," Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a statement.

She also noted that Denmark — "and thus Greenland" — was a NATO member protected by the agreement's security guarantees.

Trump rattled European leaders by capturing Venezuela's Maduro in a Delta Force-led blitz in Caracas, taking him to New York where he is to stand trial.

Trump has said the United States will now "run" Venezuela indefinitely and tap its vast oil reserves.

Asked in a telephone interview with The Atlantic about the implications of the Venezuela military operation for mineral-rich Greenland, Trump said it was up to others to decide.

"They are going to have to view it themselves. I really don't know," Trump was quoted as saying.

He added: "But we do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence."

Hours later, former aide Katie Miller, the wife of Trump's most influential adviser, drew ire by posting an image of Greenland in the colours of the US flag, captioning it "Soon".

Greenland's Nielsen called Miller's post "disrespectful".

"Relations between nations and peoples are built on mutual respect and international law — not on symbolic gestures that disregard our status and our rights," he wrote earlier on X.

But he also said "there is neither reason for panic nor for concern. Our country is not for sale, and our future is not decided by social media posts."

Stephen Miller is widely regarded as the architect of many of Trump's policies, guiding the president on his hardline immigration stance and domestic agenda.

Denmark's Ambassador to the United States Jesper Moeller Soerensen offered a pointed "friendly reminder" in response to Katie Miller's post that his country has "significantly boosted its Arctic security efforts" and worked together with Washington on that.

"We are close allies and should continue to work together as such," Soerensen wrote.

Katie Miller was the deputy press secretary at the US Department of Homeland Security during Trump's first term.

She later served as communications director for then-Vice President Mike Pence and as his press secretary.

European leaders have repeatedly warned Trump against threatening sovereign borders after he refused to rule out military force to take Greenland.

France on Monday expressed its "solidarity" with Denmark following US President Donald Trump's fresh threats to take over the autonomous Danish territory of Greenland.

"Borders cannot be changed by force," French foreign ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux told television channel TF1.

"Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the Danes, and it is up to them to decide what to do with it," he said.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also backed Copenhagen in June 2025. “The principle of the inviolability of borders is enshrined in international law and is not up for negotiation,” Merz said in Berlin after a meeting with Frederiksen.

“We stand firmly alongside our Danish friends on these issues and that will remain the case,” the German chancellor added.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in December 2024 that "territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law" and stated "we stand in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland."

European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho later confirmed Greenland is covered by a mutual defence clause binding members to assist one another if attacked, while noting that "we are indeed speaking of something extremely theoretical on which we will not want to elaborate".

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte hedged Trump's Greenland claims during his visit to the White House in March 2025, albeit agreeing on the island's importance to the alliance's security.

"When it comes to Greenland, yes or no, joining the US, I would leave that outside, for me, this discussion, because I don't want to drag NATO in that," Rutte said right after Trump stated "I think it'll happen" and that Rutte could be "very instrumental" in the potential annexation.

"But when it comes to the high north in the Arctic, you are totally right," Rutte told Trump. "The Chinese are using these routes, we know the Russians are rearming, we know we have a lack of icebreakers."

Trump first proposed purchasing Greenland during his first term in August 2019. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the idea "an absurd discussion" at the time and said "Greenland is not for sale".

Trump cancelled his scheduled state visit to Denmark on 20 August 2019, writing that Frederiksen had "no interest in discussing the purchase of Greenland" and that she "was able to save a great deal of expense and effort for both the United States and Denmark by being so direct".

Since winning re-election in 2024, Trump has renewed the proposal, appointing Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland in December 2025 while refusing to rule out military force.

US Vice President JD Vance visited Pituffik Space Base in Greenland in March 2025 in a trip that was scaled back from an initially planned three-day visit after Greenland and Denmark criticised the itinerary as creating "unacceptable pressure" and an "escalation".

Vance told service members at the base: "Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland. You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass."

He said Denmark had failed to keep pace with military spending and that the US had "no option" but to take a significant position to ensure Greenland's security.

Greenland has been under Danish control since the early 18th century but gained home rule in 1979. The island holds vast mineral wealth, including rare earths, crucial for advanced technologies.