“WE CHOOSE DENMARK”: Greenland Rejects Trump’s Annexation Threats

Image: from Orla Joelsen X@OJoelsen

By Open Chronicle Northern Europe Bureau with Agencies

COPENHAGEN — Tuesday, January 13, 2026 — In a definitive rebuff to the White House, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen declared today that the autonomous territory has no interest in becoming the next American state or territory. Speaking from the Danish capital, Nielsen made it clear that despite escalating pressure from Washington, Greenland’s loyalty remains firmly with the Kingdom of Denmark.

The statement follows a weekend of heightened tension after US President Donald Trump reignited his long-standing ambition to acquire the Arctic island, suggesting on Sunday that the United States would take the territory “one way or the other.”

🚨 JUST IN: In a jaw-dropping declaration, Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen announced that "If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO, the Kingdom of Denmark, and the EU." pic.twitter.com/DB3tyYh4T9

— WORLD NEWS (@_MAGA_NEWS_) January 13, 2026

A Sovereign Choice

Nielsen’s remarks were aimed directly at the rhetoric emanating from Mar-a-Lago and the Oval Office. “We are now facing a geopolitical crisis,” Nielsen told a packed press conference. “If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark.”

The Prime Minister was emphatic about the territory’s desire for self-determination within the current Danish framework. “One thing must be clear to everyone: Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States. Greenland does not want to be governed by the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States.”

Copenhagen Stands Firm

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stood alongside Nielsen, offering a rare and sharp public rebuke of Denmark’s closest security ally. She described the recent threats from the Trump administration as “completely unacceptable pressure.”

While acknowledging the vital importance of the US-Danish security partnership, Frederiksen noted that the current situation is unprecedented. “It has not been easy to stand up to this,” she admitted, warning that “the most challenging part is ahead of us.”

Despite the diplomatic rift, the Danish leader emphasized that Copenhagen remains committed to NATO and Arctic security cooperation, provided it respects the sovereignty of the Kingdom.

The “National Security” Argument

President Trump has doubled down on his claim that Greenland is essential for US “national security,” citing the island’s vast mineral wealth and its strategic position for monitoring Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic. The administration’s stance has shifted from a “purchase” proposal to more aggressive language regarding annexation, which has sent shockwaves through European diplomatic circles.

High-Stakes White House Meeting

The diplomatic crisis moves to Washington tomorrow. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt are scheduled to meet with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House on Wednesday.

Sources suggest the meeting will be “tense,” as the European delegation seeks to establish firm boundaries while the US team is expected to push for increased military access and perhaps a formal “security lease” that many in Nuuk fear is a precursor to a total takeover.

The Greenland Standoff: Key Players and Positions

By choosing Copenhagen over Washington, Nielsen has drawn a line in the Arctic ice. However, with a high-level meeting at the White House looming, the pressure on the “Lobster Claw” of the North is only beginning to intensify.