On January 17, 2026, a demonstration will be held in front of the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, with the slogans “Hands Off Greenland” and “Greenland for Greenlanders.”
Christian Takisen Radegaard Berg | Nurfoto | Getty Images
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said late Tuesday that the island and its people must prepare for “anything” as President Donald Trump tightens control of the semi-autonomous Arctic island, which is part of Denmark, without ruling out U.S. military action.
Nielsen told a news conference that while this scenario was unlikely, Greenland needed to prepare because the “other side” had not ruled out the possibility of using military force, an apparent reference to the United States.
“The use of military force is unlikely, but it has not been ruled out yet. The leaders of the other side have made it clear that the use of force has not been ruled out, so of course we must be prepared for anything,” he said, according to a Google translation of his remarks.
Nielsen said the Greenlandic government is preparing an information campaign for the public, including guidelines on what individuals can do, such as recommending that they stock at least five days’ worth of food at home.
Greenland will also form an emergency response team made up of city authorities, police and sections of Denmark’s Joint Arctic Forces.
“I must emphasize that we are in a difficult, difficult and stressful period, and we cannot exclude the possibility that things will get worse,” Nielsen said.
President Trump on Tuesday declined to provide details about what actions he would take to realize his goal of taking over Greenland. “We’ll see,” Trump said in response to a question about how far he would go to acquire the Arctic island.
The Danish Armed Forces on Tuesday announced European-Danish military training in Greenland, saying it was “strengthening its presence in Greenland and the North Atlantic.”
“The increased presence in Greenland is the result of a changing security policy landscape, placing new demands on Danish and NATO defense of the Arctic and North Atlantic,” the military said. The United States is part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
President Trump has downplayed the possibility that European leaders would resist if he seizes the island. “I don’t think they’re going to push back too much,” he said Tuesday in Florida. “We have to have it… They can’t keep it.”
On Saturday, President Trump threatened to raise tariffs on eight European countries by 10% starting February 1 and rising to 25% June 1 if they do not reach a deal that would allow the United States to acquire Greenland.
In response, European countries are considering retaliatory tariffs and broader punitive economic countermeasures against the United States.
