On January 6, 2026, a coalition of seven European nations—the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Denmark—issued a joint statement affirming that Greenland “belongs to its people” and that its future is for Denmark and Greenland alone to decide.
The diplomatic unified front follows comments from top White House advisor Stephen Miller, who refused to rule out military force during an interview on January 5. Miller questioned Denmark’s right to control Greenland, characterizing it as a “colony,” and asserted that “nobody’s going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland”.
Key Developments as of January 2026:
- Trump’s Renewed Claim: President Trump recently reiterated that the U.S. “absolutely” needs Greenland for national security, citing a perceived lack of Danish security presence and the presence of Russian and Chinese vessels in the Arctic.
- European Solidarity: The joint European statement emphasized the principles of the UN Charter regarding sovereignty and the “inviolability of borders”. Nordic and Baltic nations have also voiced strong support for Denmark.
- Danish Response: Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that any U.S. military action against a NATO ally would signify the “end of NATO” and the post-WWII security order.
- Greenlandic Response: Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen told Trump to stop his “fantasies of annexation,” though he later called for calm and continued cooperation to avoid panic.
- U.S. Legislative Action: A “Make Greenland Great Again Act” was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier in 2025 to authorize negotiations for the territory’s acquisition.
The tension escalated significantly following a U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, leading European leaders to fear that Greenland might be the next target for direct intervention.
