Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated that Greenlanders would choose Denmark over the United States if asked to decide between the two "here and now." Nielsen made the remark at a joint news conference with Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, marking the strongest statement from a representative of the semi-autonomous Danish territory since U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his interest in annexing it.
Trump has asserted the U.S. needs to "own" Greenland as a defense against Russia and China. The White House has floated the idea of purchasing the island, while not explicitly ruling out the use of force for annexation.
Denmark, a fellow NATO member, has firmly opposed the notion of forced annexation. Prime Minister Frederiksen has warned that military intervention would dismantle the trans-Atlantic defense alliance.
In response to Nielsen's comments, Trump said on Tuesday, "That's their problem, I disagree with him... That's going to be a big problem for him."
European allies have largely supported Denmark in its opposition to increased pressure from the U.S. regarding Greenland.
Greenland, despite being sparsely populated, holds strategic importance due to its location between North America and the Arctic, making it valuable for early warning systems.
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