Need Greenland for golden dome: Trump's renewed push ahead of Vance's key meet

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 14, 2026 19:30 IST

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that Nato should assist the United States in acquiring Greenland and declared that anything less than American control would be unacceptable.

The statement came hours before Vice President JD Vance was set to meet Danish and Greenlandic officials in Washington to discuss the future of Greenland, an Arctic territory that remains a semi-autonomous region under Denmark's sovereignty.

Trump reiterated on his social media platform that the United States “needs Greenland for the purpose of national security.” He insisted that Nato should "lead the way for us to get it" and warned that otherwise Russia or China could claim it, adding, "AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!"

"NATO become far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES. Anything less than that is unacceptable," the US President added.

The possibility of US acquisition of Greenland has drawn immediate attention from locals and world leaders alike. In Nuuk, Greenland's capital, reporters have interviewed residents along snow-covered streets to gauge public opinion. Many Greenlanders have made clear their opposition to the proposal, saying the island is not for sale and expressing concern about the White House not ruling out taking Greenland by force, reported international news agency Associated Press.

Tuuta Mikaelsen, a 22-year-old student in Nuuk, expressed her unease about the situation, stating that she hoped American officials would get the message to "back off."

Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen spoke at a news conference in Copenhagen, saying, "If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we would choose Denmark. We choose NATO. We choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We choose the EU."

His comments underlined the territory's alignment with Denmark and existing alliances, despite the strategic interest shown by the United States.

When asked about Nielsen's remarks, President Trump responded, "I disagree with him. I don’t know who he is. I don’t know anything about him. But, that’s going to be a big problem for him." This exchange highlighted the diplomatic strain between the US administration and Greenlandic leadership.

Greenland's strategic location has become increasingly important due to climate change-induced ice melt, which could open new trade routes to Asia. The potential to extract and transport valuable critical minerals needed for electronic devices has added to the territory's geopolitical significance.

Trump has stated that Greenland is "vital" to the United States' Golden Dome missile defence program. He has also argued that control of the island would strengthen America's security, citing what he characterises as threats from Russian and Chinese ships.

However, both Greenlandic residents and experts have questioned the validity of these security concerns. Lars Vintner, a local heating engineer, told AP, "The only Chinese I see is when I go to the fast food market," and noted that despite frequent sailing and hunting, he has never seen Russian or Chinese ships in the area.

Hans Norgaard, a friend of Vintner, dismissed Trump's claims about foreign naval threats, saying, "What has come out of the mouth of Donald Trump about all these ships is just fantasy."

Danish authorities have said that while the US already maintains a military presence on Greenland, any further expansion would be permitted. Vintner remarked, "security is just a cover," suggesting that economic interests in Greenland's natural resources are a key driver behind Trump's interest.

Following the White House meeting, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, along with Denmark’s ambassador to the United States, planned to meet senators from the US Arctic Caucus in Congress for further discussions.

Legislative efforts have emerged in the US to prevent any forced annexation of Greenland. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Lisa Murkowski have introduced bipartisan legislation that would ban the use of Defence or State Department funds to annex or take control of Greenland or any Nato member’s territory without that ally’s consent or authorisation from the North Atlantic Council.

A bipartisan delegation from the US Congress is also preparing to travel to Copenhagen by the end of the week to meet with Danish and Greenlandic leaders, underlining the significance of diplomatic negotiations in resolving the dispute.

Last week, European allies joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in a joint statement declaring that Greenland belongs to its inhabitants and reaffirmed, "it is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland."

On Wednesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Nol Barrot stated on RTL radio that France plans to open a consulate in Greenland on 6 February, following a decision made the previous summer. Barrot stated, "Attacking another NATO member would make no sense; it would even be contrary to the interests of the United States. And I’m hearing more and more voices in the United States saying this," and added, "So this blackmail must obviously stop."

As diplomatic meetings continue and tensions rise, the future of Greenland remains a central issue in transatlantic relations, with various stakeholders emphasising the importance of respecting the territory’s autonomy and existing alliances.

- Ends

Inputs from Associated Press

Tune In