Several European countries voiced firm support for Denmark and Greenland on Monday, rejecting US President Donald Trump’s repeated calls to take control of Greenland and stressing that the island’s future cannot be decided by outside powers.
Leaders from Nordic, Baltic, and major EU states reaffirmed respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity after Trump declined to rule out using military force to pursue an American takeover.
Trump on Sunday renewed his push for Greenland, an autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark, arguing it was vital to US security interests in the Arctic.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen urged him to stop making threats, while Greenlandic officials insisted that decisions about the territory rest solely with its own people and Denmark.
Regional leaders responded swiftly. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said only Denmark and Greenland have the right to determine matters concerning them, adding that Sweden “fully stands behind” Denmark. Norway, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Estonia, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Austria, and the European Union issued similar statements.
German deputy spokesman Sebastian Hille warned that borders must not be moved by force, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described sovereignty as “non-negotiable.” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged solidarity, noting Denmark’s role as a close NATO ally.
Meanwhile in Washington, Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy White House chief of staff, claimed no country would confront the United States militarily over Greenland.
In an interview with CNN, he questioned Denmark’s basis for asserting control over Greenland and argued the territory should become part of the US to secure NATO interests. Miller avoided ruling out the use of force, but insisted armed conflict was unrealistic, saying nobody would fight the US over Greenland’s future.
European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper reiterated that the EU would continue to uphold national sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasizing Greenland’s status as a NATO ally. The broad European reaction highlighted growing concern that Trump’s annexation ambitions threaten established international norms.
