Denmark PM to visit Greenland amid U.S. pressure to take over the island

Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, will visit semi-autonomous Greenland on Wednesday, April 2, for talks with the territory’s incoming government.

The visit follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s continued interest in gaining influence over the Arctic island.

Frederiksen’s three-day trip comes less than a week after U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Greenland, which was met with resistance from Danish and Greenlandic authorities.

Greenland’s incoming Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who won last month’s general election and is set to form a coalition government, welcomed Frederiksen’s visit. On Monday, he reaffirmed that Denmark remains Greenland’s closest partner.

Relations between Greenland and Denmark have been strained due to historical mistreatment of Greenlanders under colonial rule. However, growing international competition over Arctic influence—exemplified by Trump’s interest in Greenland—has pushed Denmark to strengthen ties with the island.

Nielsen reiterated Greenland’s goal of eventual sovereignty while emphasizing the importance of a strong relationship with Denmark.

“Greenland seeks a respectful relationship with the United States. Talking about annexation and acquiring Greenland without respecting its sovereignty is not appropriate. Let’s start by showing mutual respect and build a strong partnership,” he said.

During his visit to a U.S. military base in northern Greenland on Friday last week, Vance criticized Denmark’s efforts in maintaining the island’s security, suggesting that the U.S. would be better suited to protect the strategically located territory.

Frederiksen countered Vance’s remarks, stating that it is up to Greenland’s people to decide their future and calling his criticism of Denmark unfair.