Greenland's energy minister has issued a stark warning that any military action by the United States to annex the territory would constitute an attack on the entire NATO alliance, representing a catastrophic breakdown of international law.
A Feeling of Betrayal and Unprecedented Pressure
Speaking at a press conference in Westminster on Tuesday 13 January 2026, Naaja Nathanielsen said the people of Greenland felt "betrayed" by the continued demands from former US President Donald Trump to take over the semi-autonomous Danish territory. She described the rhetoric from Washington as both offensive and bewildering, given Greenland's longstanding support for American interests in the Arctic region.
"We feel that the rhetoric is offensive, as we have said many times before, but also bewildering because we have done nothing but support the notion that Greenland is a part of the American national self-interest," Ms Nathanielsen stated.
The minister revealed the psychological toll of the threats, saying citizens were under "massive pressure" and experiencing difficulty sleeping. Her visit to London included an address to MPs at an event organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Greenland. The group's chairman, Brendan O'Hara, affirmed that his colleagues were "unequivocal" in believing Greenland's future should be decided solely by its people.
NATO's Dilemma and the Spectre of a New World Order
When questioned on whether Greenland would expect NATO support if invaded, Minister Nathanielsen presented a profound constitutional crisis for the alliance. "I really cannot answer your question," she said, "because it implies that it would be one country being attacked by another NATO partner, but actually we would all be under attack."
She argued that such an event would force Western allies to completely re-evaluate the global framework, having to "figure out what is this new world order about." While she confirmed contingency plans were in place, the minister declined to specify if Greenland would militarily resist a US incursion, emphasising a desire for peaceful resolution. "We are not a country that finds ourselves at war with the US... We see no point in using weapons against each other. We should be friends. We are allies," she told reporters.
Diplomatic Moves and the Push for Self-Determination
The warning comes amidst escalating tension. Just a day before the press conference, on Monday, a Republican Party member introduced legislation to annex Greenland as the 51st US state. Furthermore, the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland are scheduled for a critical meeting in Washington on Wednesday with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
President Trump has justified the push by claiming he needs to "take Greenland" to pre-empt moves by Russia or China. However, Minister Nathanielsen countered that there is no "imminent threat" from either nation, though she expressed openness to enhanced NATO security monitoring on the island.
At the heart of the dispute is the fundamental right to self-determination. Nathanielsen reiterated her deepest hope: "that the people of Greenland will get a say no matter what. I think we're the ones to have a say in the decision about our future." This call for the Greenlandic people to control their own destiny has found support from European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
