As U.S. President Donald Trump strongly signaled an intention to annex Greenland, the Greenland government entered an emergency response posture, leaving open even the possibility of a U.S. military invasion. Most observers see the scenario as unlikely, but the government is preparing for the worst to protect its territory.
On the 20th, according to Bloomberg and Newsweek, Greenland Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen held a news conference in the capital Nuuk. While prefacing that "the likelihood of a military clash is small," Nielsen added, "we cannot completely rule it out." Nielsen said, "To prevent a situation where residents' daily lives collapse, we will form a dedicated task force with participation from local authorities." The Greenland government plans to soon distribute guidance urging each household to stockpile five days' worth of food.
Mute Egede, Greenland's finance minister, who joined the news conference, said, "Greenland is under immense pressure right now," and emphasized, "we must be prepared for every scenario." The New York Times (NYT) noted that, whereas Northern European countries once prepared to counter a Russian threat, they now find themselves needing to be wary of the United States. Northern European countries have revised war-preparedness guidance since late 2024, but the primary concern at the time was Russia.
The conflict is spreading across Europe. Denmark has already dispatched 100 troops to western Greenland to bolster its defenses. Denmark and seven NATO members have drawn up an operation named "Arctic Endurance," reinforcing their resolve to defend Greenland.
Trump, meanwhile, threatened to impose an additional 10% tariff starting on the 1st of next month on eight countries, including the United Kingdom, France and Germany, that sent troops to Greenland for Denmark. He also escalated pressure on social media by posting AI-generated images of the U.S. flag planted in Greenland. Bloomberg reported that "Trump is asserting ownership of Greenland for security reasons."