Speaking in Ankara on Wednesday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen made a firm declaration that Denmark would stand behind every part of the NATO alliance — including its own territory — just one day after U.S. President Donald Trump once again pushed for American control over Greenland.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that the United States must acquire or take control of Greenland, which operates as a semi-autonomous territory under Danish rule. Those claims have created lasting tension between Washington and Copenhagen, both of which are founding members of NATO, and have more broadly strained U.S. relationships across Europe. The dispute has since shifted into diplomatic channels.
“We are ready to defend every inch of NATO, including our own territory … Of course we will defend the kingdom of Denmark,” Frederiksen said, making it clear once again that Greenland is not on the table for purchase or transfer.
The Danish leader also reflected on the founding purpose of the alliance itself. “One of the reasons why we have built NATO many, many years ago, is if anything happens to one of us, then everybody should stand up for each other,” she said.
