Greenland’s incoming Prime Minister has rejected recent comments from the US Secretary of State suggesting the island could be seized by the United States. The remarks have added to tensions between Washington, Copenhagen, and Nuuk, which have been ongoing since previous attempts by US officials to claim interest in Greenland.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Denmark should recognise the islanders’ desire to leave the Danish realm. He made the comments during a press conference following a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who will soon lead the government, offered a strong response.
“We are people, not property,” he said in an interview with TV2. “No one can buy or seize us. We’re open to cooperation, but that kind of rhetoric is not acceptable.”
Rubio’s remarks follow similar claims made in the past by President Donald Trump, who suggested the Arctic island should become part of the United States. That idea was widely dismissed by officials in Denmark and on the island itself.
Nielsen acknowledged that the region is working towards greater autonomy, but insisted that the timeline will be set internally.
“We’re laying the groundwork for independence, step by step,” he said. “We’re not rushing, and we’re certainly not looking to become part of another country.”
He added that Greenland will continue to shape its own future through careful planning, not foreign pressure.
Nielsen’s coalition is expected to take office on 7 April. The new administration is likely to continue building local governance and developing a long-term strategy for full independence.
