Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen gives a speech at a coffee gathering at the Greenland Representation on Nordatlantens Brygge in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Jan. 15, 2026. Credit — Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg—NurPhoto/Getty Images
As President Donald Trump has renewed his push to annex Greenland in recent weeks, many world leaders have raised vocal objections.
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. But Trump has claimed that the U.S. needs to take control of the island for “national security” reasons and that the European Union also “needs” the U.S. to annex the territory. The Trump Administration has suggested the possibility of using military force to acquire Greenland; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier this month that “utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the Commander-in-Chief’s disposal.” And on Friday, Trump indicated that he may impose tariffs on nations that “don’t go along with” his plans for the territory.
Many European leaders, as well as other political figures around the world, have pushed back on Trump’s plans to take over Greenland, however—and warned that an attack on the territory could have major consequences for the international world order.
Here’s what world leaders have said on the issue.
Greenland
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen voiced his strong opposition to the possibility of the U.S. taking control of the territory in a social media post earlier this month.
“When the President of the United States talks about ‘we need Greenland’ and connects us with Venezuela and military intervention, it’s not just wrong, it’s so disrespectful,” he said. “Our country is not an object of superpower rhetoric. We are a people. A land. And democracy. This has to be respected. Especially by close and loyal friends.”
The leaders of the territory’s five political parties, including Nielsen, also released a joint statement last week in which they rejected Trump’s remarks on the island by saying, “We do not want to be Americans, we do not want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders.”
On Tuesday, Nielsen again rebuked Trump, saying at a press conference, “We are now facing a geopolitical crisis, and if we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark.”
Denmark
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told broadcasters in her country this month that Trump’s comments about taking control of Greenland «should be taken seriously.” Frederiksen also warned that “If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops,” saying that such an aggressive action would mark the end of NATO.
“We will not accept a situation where we and Greenland are threatened in this way,” she said.
On Wednesday, Denmark said that it was strengthening its military presence on and around the island.
France
In December, French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X that he “reaffirmed France’s unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland,” adding that “Greenland belongs to its people. Denmark stands as its guarantor.”