'Enough Is Enough': Greenland's Prime Minister Issues Stark Warning as Trump Renews Annexation Threat

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has warned the United States to stop its threats of annexation against the territory. “No more pressure. No more hints. No more fantasies about annexation,” he urged on Sunday, emphasizing that while Greenland is open to a dialogue with the U.S., it will no longer stand for “pressure” or “disrespectful posts on social media.” Nielsen’s impassioned statement comes as President Donald Trump renews his annexation threat against Greenland in the wake of the Venezuela operation which saw Nicolás Maduro captured and brought to the U.S. In comments that Nielsen labeled “utterly unacceptable,” Trump repeated his eagerness to oversee a U.S. annexation of Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. “We need Greenland from a national security situation. It’s so strategic,” the President told reporters aboard Air Force One over the weekend. “Right now Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security. And Denmark is not going to be able to do it.” Trump claimed that the European Union “needs” the U.S. to “have” Greenland. (European leaders have previously shown support for Greenland against Trump’s annexation threats.) “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,” said Nielsen as he responded via social media. Addressing Trump’s rhetoric regarding the position of Greenland, Nielsen continued: “We are a part of NATO and we are fully aware of our country’s strategic location. And we realize that our security depends on good friends and strong alliances. In this regard, a respectful and loyal relationship with the United States is very important. It’s been that way for decades.” Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire for Greenland to become part of the U.S. since returning to the White House last year. During an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press in May, he refused to rule out military force to annex the territory. Now, as Trump doubles down on his threats, others in the MAGA circle have addressed the matter. Katie Miller, the wife of Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, alluded to the U.S. one day controlling Greenland in a social media post over the weekend. Miller wrote “soon” alongside an image of a map of Greenland with the U.S. flag across the island. Nielsen responded, saying “our country is not for sale and our future is not determined by social media posts.” He urged Greenland natives not to panic, but insisted “there’s good reason to speak up against the lack of respect.” The residents of Greenland elected Nielsen as Prime Minister in March last year. The vote was widely seen as pushback against the annexation threat as Nielsen campaigned against Trump’s wishes for a U.S. takeover. Shortly after Nielsen’s win, Vice President J.D. Vance visited U.S. troops at the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland. “Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” said Vance as he addressed the U.S. personnel. In August, the top U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen was summoned by the Danish Foreign Minister following reports that three Americans close to the President had been compiling names of citizens in Greenland keen to join a secessionist movement. Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen confirmed to TIME that he had summoned Mark Stroh, the U.S. charge d’affaires in Copenhagen, and insisted “any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom [of Denmark] will of course be unacceptable.” Tensions flared again in December when Trump appointed Louisiana’s Gov. Jeff Landry to serve as special envoy to Greenland. “Jeff understands how essential Greenland is to our national security, and will strongly advance our country’s interests for the safety, security, and survival of our allies, and indeed, the world,” Trump said of his decision.