Greenland's political leadership issued a rare unified rebuke Friday, rejecting President Donald Trump's renewed comments about bringing the Arctic island under U.S. control. The statement, signed by leaders of all five parties represented in the country's parliament, denounced Trump's remarks as "unacceptable" and reaffirmed Greenland's commitment to self-governance.
"We - all the party leaders - cannot accept the repeated statements regarding annexation and control of Greenland," the leaders declared in a joint statement shared on X. "We find this behavior toward friends and allies in a defense alliance unacceptable."
The response followed Trump's Thursday meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, during which the U.S. president publicly reiterated his desire to annex Greenland. "Well, I think it'll happen," Trump said when asked about the possibility of U.S. control over the island. "We've been dealing with Denmark. We've been dealing with Greenland. And we have to do it. We really need it for national security."
Trump also emphasized Greenland's existing military relationship with the U.S., noting the American bases stationed there. "Maybe you'll see more and more soldiers go there," he added.
The joint statement was endorsed by Jens Frederik Nielsen of the Demokraatit party, Pele Broberg of Naleraq, Múte B. Egede of Inuit Ataqatigiit, Vivian Motzfeldt of Siumut, and Aqqalu C. Jerimiassen of Atassut. All five party leaders underscored Greenland's sovereign right to self-determination, asserting, "Greenland belongs to the Greenlandic people, and we (as leaders) stand in unison."
Prime Minister Múte B. Egede separately reinforced that message, writing on Facebook, "Our country will never be the USA, and we Greenlanders will never be Americans. Greenland is one country. We are united."
The latest comments from Trump come shortly after Greenland's parliamentary elections, which saw the Demokraatit party secure a victory over Egede's Inuit Ataqatigiit party. Independence from Denmark was a key issue during the campaign, particularly in light of renewed American interest in the territory.
Trump's pursuit of Greenland is not new. During his first term, he described the mineral-rich island as a "large real estate deal" and attempted to negotiate a purchase. Greenlandic leaders firmly rejected the idea then, as they have now. In January, Prime Minister Egede reiterated, "Greenland is not for sale and will never be for sale."
The U.S. has long eyed Greenland for its strategic importance. Interest dates back to 1867, when the State Department explored the possibility of purchasing both Greenland and Iceland. In 1946, the Truman administration offered Denmark $100 million for Greenland, an offer that was rejected.
Had Trump's acquisition ambitions materialized, the move would have marked the largest territorial expansion in U.S. history, surpassing even the Louisiana Purchase.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Greenland's statement.
Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, controls its domestic affairs while Denmark manages defense and foreign policy. The island's strategic location along Arctic air and sea routes, coupled with its rich natural resources, has made it an object of international interest.
