ERTnews correspondent Fanis Papathanasiou reports from Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, on the concerns of the residents. Although they have learned to survive in the harshest of conditions, they have been worried for a long time because of President Trump's statements about conquering the island by any means.
As Fanis Papathanasiou reports, the residents are upset as they see their country and homeland becoming a point of confrontation between major powers with geostrategic ambitions, rare earths and rare metals, military bases and sea routes when the ice melts. Had the meeting scheduled for today at the White House happened 2–3 weeks ago, the mood might have been different. However, following the events in Venezuela, things have become more difficult, and it seems that Greenland is also under threat given the US president's statements that he will conquer it by any means necessary.
This country has enormous geostrategic importance for the United States, as control of Greenland would allow anyone to dominate the Arctic.
The crucial questions are: what will the American President ultimately do, and when? How will the Europeans react? Who will decide the fate of this country? And what will the cost of this transition be?
"Greenland chooses Denmark over the USA"
"Greenland chooses Denmark over the United States," Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen told a press conference in Copenhagen on Tuesday.
Jens-Frederick Nielsen made his government's position on the recent discussions on the status of the island absolutely clear, stressing that his country does not wish to come under the control or sovereignty of the United States.
"Greenland does not want to belong to the United States and does not want to be under their control. Our choice is clear: we remain with Denmark," he said.
"I would like to reiterate that Greenland is not for sale", Greenland's Prime Minister noted, adding that "We have great confidence in the NATO alliance. We remain united with the Kingdom of Denmark."
He also made it clear that his government's goal remains "peaceful dialogue, based on cooperation, with respect for our constitutional position, international law, our right to our land and our right to self-determination".
Standing next to him, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen admitted that resisting the "totally unacceptable pressure" from their closest ally had not been easy.
"It's not just about Greenland or the Kingdom. It is about the fact that borders should not be changed by force, that a people cannot be bought and that small countries should not be afraid of big countries," she said.
She stressed that Denmark and Greenland "are not only defending themselves, but the international order on which previous generations have built our democracy", pointing to the indivisible bond that unites the parts of the Danish Kingdom. In a particularly symbolic moment, the Danish Prime Minister addressed the citizens of Greenland directly through the television cameras, stating: "Dear compatriots in Greenland, please know that we stand united."
Source: A European Perspective, ERTNews
Originally published by ERT News Editorial Team on 13 January 2026 19:30