After the US President called Greenland a ‘piece of ice’, Prime Minister Nielsen described Greenland as a proud nation striving to maintain the global order.
Published on 9 April 2026
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Fredrik Nielsen has called on NATO allies to stand together to defend international law as he pushed back against United States President Donald Trump’s latest comments regarding the Arctic island.
Trump expressed his frustration over NATO’s reluctance to join a war he started with Israel against Iran, saying in a social media post on Wednesday that the military alliance was not there when needed and “wouldn’t be there even if we needed them again. Remember Greenland, that big, poorly run, piece of ice”.
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Nielsen rejected the characterization Thursday.
“We are not snowflakes. We are a proud population of 57,000 people who work as good global citizens every day, with full respect for all our colleagues,” he told Reuters news agency.
Nielsen underlined the importance of maintaining the post-war geopolitical order, including the NATO defense alliance and globally respected international law.
He said, “Those things are now being challenged and I think all allies should stand together to try to maintain them. I hope that happens.”
diplomatic talks
NATO allies were already struggling to find ways to keep the alliance united earlier this year after Trump revived his effort to wrest Greenland from fellow NATO member Denmark.
The White House said in January that Trump was considering the use of military force in Greenland, prompting Germany, France and other European countries to send small contingents of troops to the island in a message of solidarity and deterrence.
Trump later backed down after talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, saying a “framework for a future agreement” had been reached and the Greenland dispute being moved onto a diplomatic track.
His comments on the island followed a meeting with Rutte on Wednesday.
Greenland, Denmark and the US began diplomatic talks in late January, and Nielsen said they are still ongoing, and more meetings are scheduled.
Trump and his supporters have insisted that the US needs Greenland to protect against threats from Russia and China in the Arctic and that Denmark cannot ensure its security.
The US already has a base on the island and has the ability to expand its presence there under a 1951 treaty.
“It would be strange when all parties want to discuss increased defense cooperation and not that agreement (from 1951),” Nielsen said.
Despite the talks, Nielsen made clear that he does not believe Trump has given up his ambitions regarding the island: “I can’t see his desire to annex or control Greenland being taken off the table,” he said.
