In a recent 45-minute phone call, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his demand for the United States to gain control over Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen firmly responded that Greenland is not for sale. According to European officials, the conversation was aggressive, with Trump threatening punitive tariffs against Denmark if it refused to relinquish control of Greenland. Frederiksen proposed enhanced cooperation on military bases and mineral exploitation in Greenland, but Trump dismissed these offers, insisting on full U.S. control. This development has heightened concerns in Europe about strained transatlantic relations, especially following Trump’s recent threats of heavy tariffs on the EU and demands for increased defense spending from NATO allies.
As others have pointed out, the US play here is likely to be stopping payments for the current US military based in Greenland but not leaving, testing its limits (operating outside of the designated areas), and generally just begging for a response. At this point the Danish (and the EU generally) will have to choose - if they do nothing then it’ll encourage more of this BS in Greenland and elsewhere. If they respond with any force it’ll be what Trump wants. He’ll use it as pretense for…whatever he wants to do.
This behaviour will make it far less likely that all of the US international partners will renew military base leases or sign new ones, and long term it will diminish American military power globally, but nobody in MAGA let alone Trump are really thinking beyond the immediate anyways.
So the answer your question, the Danes are trying to avoid all of that BS.
Everyone knows Trump is a dick, and the US is mega powerful. The debate in the rest of the world is how to deal with it. Using “honey” and using “vinegar” are both in the running. Honey remains more popular because chummyness is an old reflex with the US, and most well-to-do Westerners still don’t get what’s happening.
Dude probably thinks Trump is an actual business man and is over selling what he wants and actually wants something way less. That ain’t trump, no 5d chess here.
Summary:
In a recent 45-minute phone call, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his demand for the United States to gain control over Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen firmly responded that Greenland is not for sale. According to European officials, the conversation was aggressive, with Trump threatening punitive tariffs against Denmark if it refused to relinquish control of Greenland. Frederiksen proposed enhanced cooperation on military bases and mineral exploitation in Greenland, but Trump dismissed these offers, insisting on full U.S. control. This development has heightened concerns in Europe about strained transatlantic relations, especially following Trump’s recent threats of heavy tariffs on the EU and demands for increased defense spending from NATO allies.
Why is Denmark even offering anything at all
As others have pointed out, the US play here is likely to be stopping payments for the current US military based in Greenland but not leaving, testing its limits (operating outside of the designated areas), and generally just begging for a response. At this point the Danish (and the EU generally) will have to choose - if they do nothing then it’ll encourage more of this BS in Greenland and elsewhere. If they respond with any force it’ll be what Trump wants. He’ll use it as pretense for…whatever he wants to do.
This behaviour will make it far less likely that all of the US international partners will renew military base leases or sign new ones, and long term it will diminish American military power globally, but nobody in MAGA let alone Trump are really thinking beyond the immediate anyways.
So the answer your question, the Danes are trying to avoid all of that BS.
Denmark is normally otherwise an ally of the US.
However, this call has spooked the Danes. There will 100% be escalations from the Danes to protect themselves as a result.
Everyone knows Trump is a dick, and the US is mega powerful. The debate in the rest of the world is how to deal with it. Using “honey” and using “vinegar” are both in the running. Honey remains more popular because chummyness is an old reflex with the US, and most well-to-do Westerners still don’t get what’s happening.
Dude probably thinks Trump is an actual business man and is over selling what he wants and actually wants something way less. That ain’t trump, no 5d chess here.
Dudette*
Art of the Deal.
well thats one way to increase nato spending