Denmark has issued a stern warning to the United States, saying any attempt by President Donald Trump to seize Greenland by force would trigger a direct military conflict between the two NATO allies.
The warning was issued by Rasmus Jarlov, a Danish Member of Parliament and chairman of Denmark’s parliamentary defence committee, amid renewed controversy over Trump’s repeated comments about taking control of Greenland.
Speaking in an interview with CNN, Jarlov said Denmark would not hesitate to defend the Arctic island if U.S. troops attempted an invasion. “If they invade, then it means war,” he stated, stressing that Copenhagen has a constitutional duty to protect Greenland and its people.
Jarlov acknowledged that the United States possesses far superior military strength but insisted that Denmark would still respond militarily to any aggression. According to him, an invasion would place American and Danish forces in direct confrontation, a scenario he described as disastrous for both countries.
He further dismissed any economic justification for annexing Greenland, noting that the United States already enjoys extensive access to the territory through existing agreements. “The economic justification is very weak,” Jarlov said, arguing that taking control of Greenland would impose heavy financial and political costs on Washington rather than benefits.
Greenland is a self-governing territory under the Kingdom of Denmark and is considered strategically important due to its location in the Arctic and its vast natural resources. Trump has, on several occasions, publicly suggested that the United States should acquire the island, sparking sharp criticism from Danish officials.
Although Trump has stopped short of explicitly threatening military action, he has refused to rule it out entirely and has previously warned of imposing tariffs on European countries if negotiations over Greenland fail.
The latest remarks from Denmark underscore growing diplomatic tensions and highlight the potential consequences of any unilateral move by Washington over the Arctic territory.