Denmark pushes back against US Greenland annexation bill

Copenhagen has reaffirmed that the Arctic island is part of Denmark as the US hints at the use of force to acquire the territory

Denmark’s ambassador to Washington, Jesper Moller Sorensen, has said he made it “abundantly clear” to US Congressman Randy Fine that Greenland is part of Denmark, after the lawmaker introduced a bill calling for the annexation of the Arctic Island.

On Monday, the Republican congressman introduced the Greenland Annexation and Statehood Act. The bill is aimed at authorizing the US president to take “whatever steps necessary to annex or acquire Greenland,” and mandates a report to Congress outlining the measures required for its eventual admission as a state.

In a post on X, the Danish ambassador said he and Greenland’s representative in Washington met with Fine the same day, reiterating that the autonomous Arctic territory is part of Denmark. Sorensen added that Copenhagen and Greenland are ready to deepen security cooperation with the US to strengthen NATO’s collective defense.

President Donald Trump said last week that the US would acquire Greenland “one way or another.” He also argued that Denmark is unable to provide security for the world’s largest island, claiming it is “covered with Russian and Chinese ships.” The allegations have been rejected by a number of officials.

Trump has sought to acquire Greenland since his first term. He renewed the push shortly after assuming office again in January 2025, stressing that the island is vital to Arctic security due to its strategic position.

Read more

The claims, coming on the heels of a US military raid in Venezuela and the unprecedented abduction of its president, have further heightened tensions between Washington and its European NATO allies, who have uniformly rejected any US attempt to take control of the territory.

Denmark insists that the future of the island, which already hosts a US military base, must be decided by its people, the vast majority of whom voted in 2008 to maintain self-governing status within Denmark.

Beijing has condemned Trump’s use of China and Russia as pretexts for expanding US influence in the region. While Moscow has yet to officially respond to Trump’s latest remarks, Russia has warned against Arctic militarization and said Greenland’s future should be decided by its people.