A demonstration under the slogans ‘hands off Greenland’ and ‘Greenland for Greenlanders’ takes place in front of the US embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Jan. 17, 2026.
Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg | Nurphoto | Getty Images
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said late Tuesday the island and its people should be prepared for “everything,” not ruling out a U.S. military action as President Donald Trump doubles down on taking control of the semi-autonomous Arctic island, part of Denmark.
Speaking at a news conference, Nielsen said that while the scenario was unlikely, Greenland has to be prepared as “the other side” has not ruled out the use of military force, in an apparent reference to the United States.
“It is not likely that there will be a use of military force, but it has not been ruled out yet. This leader from the other side has made it very clear that it is not ruled out. And therefore we must of course be prepared for everything,” he said, according to a Google translation of his remarks.
Nielsen said that Greenland’s government was preparing an information campaign for its people, including guidelines on what individuals can do, including recommendation to have at least five days of food in their homes.
Greenland will also be forming an emergency response team consisting of departments from municipal authorities, the police and Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command.
“We must emphasize that we are in a difficult, a difficult time, a stressful time, and we cannot rule out that it can escalate even [to something] worse,” Nielsen said.
Trump on Tuesday refused to detail what actions he would take to realize his aim of taking over Greenland. “You’ll find out,” Trump said in response to a question on how far he would go to acquire the Arctic island.
Denmark’s armed forces on Tuesday put out releases of European and Danish military training in Greenland, and said that it was “strengthening its presence in Greenland and the North Atlantic.”
“The increased presence in Greenland is a consequence of the changed security policy situation, which places new demands on the defence of the Arctic and the North Atlantic by Denmark and NATO,” the armed forces said. The U.S. is part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Trump has downplayed the likelihood of resistance from European leaders if he were to take over the island. “I don’t think they’re going to push back too much,” he said on Tuesday in Florida. “We have to have it …They can’t protect it.”
On Saturday, Trump threatened eight European countries with higher tariffs, starting at 10% on Feb. 1 and rising to 25% on June 1, if a deal was not reached allowing the U.S. to acquire Greenland
In response, European states are weighing retaliatory tariffs and broader punitive economic counter-measures against the U.S.