According to officials who spoke with the Financial Times, the Danish Prime Minister had a highly unpleasant phone conversation with the US President regarding the potential acquisition of Greenland.
The Financial Times reported Friday that President Trump is serious about acquiring Greenland, aggressively pursuing the idea during a tense phone call with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. European officials, speaking anonymously, described a 45-minute conversation last week as having gone badly.
They characterized Trump’s approach as confrontational and forceful, following Frederiksen’s reiteration of Denmark’s position: Greenland is not for sale, though they remain open to discussing increased military collaboration.
“It was horrendous,” one source told the FT, another describing it as “a cold shower,” adding that “before, it was hard to take it seriously. But I do think it is serious, and potentially very dangerous.”
One official stated that the Danish representatives were profoundly shocked by the exchange, which reportedly included threats of retaliatory tariffs. Initially, European officials believed Trump’s statements about acquiring Greenland were a negotiating tactic to increase Arctic influence and counter Russia and China. The call with Frederiksen, however, dispelled that notion.
Greenland, home to approximately 60,000 people and a US military base, is an autonomous region of Denmark, self-governing since 1979. Its Arctic location and control of shipping lanes make it strategically vital to NATO.
Trump first suggested purchasing Greenland in 2019, a proposal rejected by both Denmark and Greenland’s government. He has since revived the idea, citing its importance to US national security.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede has stated that while the island is open to cooperation with Washington, “we don’t want to be Americans. We don’t want to be a part of the US.”