During his first administration, President-elect Donald Trump expressed interest in buying Greenland from Denmark, which was promptly dismissed as 'absurd' by the Danish prime minister. However, Danish officials are now facing warnings from Trump allies and advisers that he is serious about the idea.
Multiple Danish officials have confirmed that they are carefully evaluating how to respond to Trump's renewed interest in buying Greenland without causing a rift with a close ally and fellow NATO member. They acknowledge that the current situation is different from 2019 when Trump first proposed the idea, with one senior Danish official noting that the current interest appears to be much more serious.
Trump recently stated that the U.S. needs Greenland for national security purposes, raising questions about Denmark's legal rights over the territory. Danish officials have indicated that they do not necessarily agree with Trump's assertions and believe that engaging in a frank conversation with the incoming Trump administration is crucial to prevent a potential crisis.
Denmark's Foreign Minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, has expressed openness to further discussions with the U.S. on how to enhance cooperation to meet American objectives. Rasmussen emphasized the importance of dialogue to address the issue and explore potential avenues for closer collaboration.
