The Danish chief tells us: “You cannot annex another country” during the visit to Greenland

Nuuk, Greenland (AP) – The Prime Minister of Denmark said in the United States during a visit to Greenland that “you cannot annex another country”, even with the argument that international security is at stake.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on the other hand, said on Friday that Washington would respect the self -determination of Greenland and that Copenhagen “should focus on the fact that the Greenlanders do not want to be part of Denmark.”

On Friday, Danish Prime Minister put Frederiksen wrapped a three -day visit to the strategically critical Arctic island while US President Donald Trump seeks control of Greenland. He argues that Greenland, a semi-automobile territory belonging to the kingdom of Denmark, is essential to American security.

A week ago, Vice-President JD Vance visited an American military base remote in Greenland and accused Denmark of subinvesting on the territory.

Frederiksen rejected American criticism while spanning Thursday alongside Greenland leaders aboard a Danish naval ship. She argued that Denmark, an ally of NATO, was a reliable friend.

Speaking in English, she said that “if we let ourselves be divided as an ally, then we do service to our enemies. And I will do everything I can to prevent it from happening. ”

“When you ask our companies to invest in the United States, they do it. When you wonder to spend more on our defense, we do it; And when you ask us to strengthen security in the Arctic, we are on the same wavelength, “she said.

“But when you demand to resume part of the territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, when we are encountered by pressure and the threats of our nearest ally, what do we believe in the country that we have admired for so many years?”

“This is the world order that we have built together through the Atlantic during generations: you cannot annex another country, not even with an argument on international security,” said Frederiksen.

The Danish chief said that if the United States wanted to strengthen security in the Arctic, “let’s do it together.”

Political parties in Greenland, which look at a possible independence from Denmark for years last week has agreed to form a new broad coalition government in the face of Trump’s conceptions in the territory. They have made a lot of anger in Greenland and Denmark.

In an interview with Newsmax on Thursday, Vance repeated the accusation according to which Denmark “really underestimated in the infrastructure and security of Greenland”.

He said that Trump’s point is that “this counts for our security, which matters to our anti -missile defense, and we will protect the interests of America come from hell or high water.”

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lars Løkke Rasmussen, who attended a meeting in Brussels with his NATO counterparts, wrote on Social Network X that he had an “honest and direct” meeting on Thursday with Rubio.

“I have shown that crystallita that affirmations and declarations on the annex of Greenland are not only unacceptable and disrespectful,” wrote Løkke Rasmussen. “They constitute a violation of international law.”

Rubio told journalists in Brussels on Friday that “nobody drew up.” He added that Vance clearly said that “he will respect the self -determination of the Greenlanders”.

“Denmark should focus on the fact that the Greenlanders do not want to be part of Denmark,” said Rubio.

“We haven’t given them this idea. They’ve been talking about it for a long time,” he said. “Whenever they make this decision, they will make this decision.”

“If they make this decision, the United States would be ready, potentially, to intervene and say, okay, we can create a partnership with you,” said Rubio, adding that “we are not at this stage.”

Originally published: April 4, 2025 at 6:46 a.m.