A dispute has emerged between Donald Trump and the government of Greenland after the island’s Prime Minister strongly rejected remarks made by the U.S. leader.
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, called on member states of NATO to stand together in defending international law, stressing that Greenland is not a territory that can simply be dismissed.
Since the outbreak of the Iran war on February 28, 2026, Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO members, claiming that they failed to provide military support when he needed it. He warned that in the future he may not respond if those countries request assistance.
During one of his remarks, Trump referred to Greenland as merely a poorly managed island of ice.
“Remember Greenland, that poorly governed island, just a piece of ice,” Trump said.
Prime Minister Nielsen rejected the statement, emphasizing that Greenland is home to more than 57,000 people.
“We are not just a block of ice. We are 57,000 proud people who work every day like anyone else in the world and respect our partners,” Nielsen said.
Speaking to Reuters, Nielsen stressed the importance of respecting the international legal framework established after the World War II, including respect for national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international law.
“These principles are now being challenged, and I believe all our partners must stand together to defend them,” he added.
Relations between the United States and several European countries have been tense since late 2025 over the future of Greenland. The United States has expressed interest in bringing the island under its control, while European nations support the continuation of its current status as an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
In January 2026, Trump reportedly considered deploying U.S. troops to take control of Greenland by force. Countries such as Germany, France, and United Kingdom signaled that they might send limited forces to help protect the island.
However, Trump later decided not to deploy troops after discussions with Mark Rutte, the Secretary General of NATO.
Greenland, the United States, and Denmark are continuing negotiations over the island’s future. Washington argues that controlling Greenland could help address security concerns in the Arctic region, particularly in response to potential threats from Russia and China, while claiming that Denmark may not have sufficient capacity to manage security in the Arctic Ocean.