An indication underneath the slogans ‘fingers off Greenland’ and ‘Greenland for Greenlanders’ takes place in entrance of the US embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Jan. 17, 2026.
Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg | Nurphoto | Getty Pictures
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated late Tuesday the island and its folks ought to be ready for “all the pieces,” not ruling out a U.S. navy motion as President Donald Trump doubles down on taking management of the semi-autonomous Arctic island, a part of Denmark.
Talking at a information convention, Nielsen stated that whereas the situation was unlikely, Greenland needs to be ready as “the opposite aspect” has not dominated out the usage of navy power, in an obvious reference to the US.
“It isn’t doubtless that there can be a use of navy power, however it has not been dominated out but. This chief from the opposite aspect has made it very clear that it isn’t dominated out. And subsequently we should in fact be ready for all the pieces,” he stated, in keeping with a Google translation of his remarks.
Nielsen stated that Greenland’s authorities was getting ready an info marketing campaign for its folks, together with pointers on what people can do, together with suggestion to have at the least 5 days of meals of their properties.
Greenland can even be forming an emergency response crew consisting of departments from municipal authorities, the police and Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command.
“We should emphasize that we’re in a troublesome, a troublesome time, a anxious time, and we can’t rule out that it could actually escalate even [to something] worse,” Nielsen stated.
Trump on Tuesday refused to element what actions he would take to appreciate his intention of taking up Greenland. “You may discover out,” Trump stated in response to a query on how far he would go to accumulate the Arctic island.
Denmark’s armed forces on Tuesday put out releases of European and Danish navy coaching in Greenland, and stated that it was “strengthening its presence in Greenland and the North Atlantic.”
“The elevated presence in Greenland is a consequence of the modified safety coverage scenario, which locations new calls for on the defence of the Arctic and the North Atlantic by Denmark and NATO,” the armed forces stated. The U.S. is a part of the North Atlantic Treaty Group.
Trump has downplayed the chance of resistance from European leaders if he had been to take over the island. “I do not assume they are going to push again an excessive amount of,” he stated on Tuesday in Florida. “We now have to have it …They cannot shield it.”
On Saturday, Trump threatened eight European nations with larger tariffs, beginning at 10% on Feb. 1 and rising to 25% on June 1, if a deal was not reached permitting the U.S. to accumulate Greenland
In response, European states are weighing retaliatory tariffs and broader punitive financial counter-measures in opposition to the U.S.
