Greenland Rejects US Takeover Trump 2026 Push to Stay with Denmark

Choosing the kingdom over the superpower. Greenland has officially rejected Donald Trump's persistent efforts to annex the territory, choosing to remain an autonomous part of Denmark. On January 13, 2026, Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen declared that the island would not succumb to what Danish leadership described as "unacceptable pressure" from its closest ally.

The Greenland US Takeover Trump 2026 Crisis

Speaking at a news conference in Copenhagen, Nielsen highlighted the severity of the current geopolitical climate. "If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark," he stated. The announcement follows Trump's repeated assertions that he will bring the Arctic territory under American control "one way or another," a stance that has sparked outrage across Europe.

Cultural identity remains a significant barrier to the proposed takeover. Aaja Chemnitz, a Greenlandic politician, told Al Jazeera that a majority of the island's 56,000 residents have no desire to become US citizens. She emphasized that the Greenlandic soul, language, and culture are not for sale, countering the transactional approach taken by the White House.

Diplomatic Showdown in Washington

The tension is set to move to the negotiating table. On Wednesday, US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are scheduled to meet with the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen stated the goal is to look each other in the eye and address the discussion in a formal setting, away from public threats.