Greenland and Denmark Brace for War Over Trump's Island Bid

Residents of Greenland have been advised to create a five-day supply of food and water in case of a possible U.S. military invasion. This unprecedented measure, announced by local authorities, is a direct response to threats from U.S. President Donald Trump and marks a new level of escalation around the world«s largest island.

Greenland Prepares for the Worst

Greenland«s Prime Minister Jens-Frederic Nielsen stated that the government is developing new recommendations for the population: residents are advised to have a five-day food supply at home. Additionally, a working group of local authorities is planned to help the population prepare for any disruptions in daily life, writes Bloomberg. According to him, although the use of force against the island is unlikely, »it cannot be ruled out.«

Danish Parliament member Rasmus Jarlov stated that if U.S. President Donald Trump invades Greenland, «it will be war, and we will fight against each other.»

«We know that the Americans are stronger than us, but our duty is to defend our land and our people,» Jarlov told CNN.

Danish MEP Anders Vistisen used profane language to «tell off» U.S. President Donald Trump during a speech due to his words about intending to take control of Greenland.

Greenland Parliament member Kuno Fenker told RIA Novosti that United States access to the island«s military infrastructure was significantly limited in 2004 as part of a review of defense agreements with Denmark. The only U.S. defense facility is the Thule Air Base.

According to him, any U.S. actions outside of existing facilities require the consent of Copenhagen and Nuuk.

«If they want to even land helicopters or airplanes outside of current airports, they need approval from Denmark and Greenland. If they want to do something, improve the Thule base, they need approval from Denmark and Greenland,» Fenker said in a conversation with RIA Novosti.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated that the kingdom will not give up Greenland, despite Trump«s repeated statements about intending to take control of the Danish territory.

U.S. Plans

The cause for alarm was statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, who at the beginning of the year revived the topic of «acquiring» Greenland. He called the island, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark, «absolutely necessary» for U.S. national security. When directly asked by journalists how far he is willing to go, Trump evasively but threateningly replied, «You»ll find out.«

After meeting unanimous opposition, the Trump administration moved to economic pressure. It was announced that from 1 February 2026, tariffs of 10% would be imposed on all goods from eight European countries, including Denmark, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. The threat was that if resistance continues, the rate could be increased to 25% from 1 June.

Europe is also considering introducing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods worth more than $100 billion, wrote the Financial Times citing sources. According to the publication, European officials hope that the threat of retaliatory tariffs may force Trump to abandon the idea of implementing the measures.

Later it became clear that the United States will likely have to return the revenue received from tariffs if the country«s Supreme Court finds the authorities» actions in trade policy illegal.

Response Measures

The European Union expressed full solidarity with Denmark. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the sovereignty of Denmark and Greenland «non-negotiable.»

EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas stated that in the situation around Greenland, the EU is in a crisis «that it has never faced before.»

«We are not interested in starting a fight, but we will stand our ground. Europe has a whole range of tools to protect its interests,» she said.

As one of the first response steps, according to Agence France-Presse, the European Parliament suspended the ratification of a major trade deal with the U.S., depriving American goods of prospects for tariff-free access to the European market.

To find a diplomatic way out of the crisis, some European leaders proposed unconventional approaches. In an attempt to reduce tensions, Finnish President Alexander Stubb suggested using «sauna diplomacy» to discuss the Greenland issue with Donald Trump.

«Sometimes it»s better to slow down. You know, go to the sauna, take a good bath, and then find a solution. <...> From golf diplomacy to sauna diplomacy. <...> Why not?« said Stubb.

This proposal refers to the traditional Finnish practice of conducting important negotiations in the informal and relaxing setting of a sauna.

The situation has gone far beyond a bilateral dispute, causing a wave of outrage. In the UK and Germany, politicians openly called for their national football teams to boycott the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, in protest against Trump«s actions. The president of the German club St. Pauli, Oke Göttlich, questioned whether it is appropriate for Europeans to participate in competitions in a country »that indirectly, and possibly soon directly, attacks Europe.«

How It Could End

For now, the conflict continues to develop. Finnish President Alexander Stubb, commenting on the situation, named three possible scenarios for further events: good, bad, and terrible.

«The good scenario is that we can de-escalate the situation, find a way out, and then strengthen security in the Arctic within NATO. The bad scenario is what will entail a rupture between Greenland and Denmark, which will be forced one way or another, and the result of which we do not know,» stated Stubb.

He noted that the terrible scenario involves military intervention. However, according to him, no one believes in such an option.