A senior Greenlandic official pushed back sharply on President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the United States could gain sovereignty over land housing a major U.S. military installation, making clear that such a move crosses a firm boundary for the territory.
Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland’s minister overseeing industry, raw materials, mining, energy, law enforcement, and equality, told USA Today on Sunday that surrendering sovereignty is a “red line” for Greenland. Her remarks came after Trump told the New York Post on Friday that the United States intends to secure control over the land occupied by Pituffik Space Base, a key site for missile defense and space surveillance.
“We’ll have everything we want,” Trump said, referring to ongoing discussions. “We have some interesting talks going on.”
Nathanielsen rejected that premise, aligning her comments with those previously made by Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. She said Sunday that Greenland giving up sovereignty “is not on the table for now,” underscoring that while cooperation with the United States continues, outright transfer of control is not under consideration.
Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland has been a consistent theme of his second term. Just last week, the president reached what he described as a “framework” agreement with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte concerning Greenland. As part of that development, Trump stepped back from imposing 10 percent tariffs on several European nations that had supported Greenland’s sovereignty, signaling a more diplomatic approach.
The framework agreement, which has not yet been finalized, would grant the United States preferential access to Greenland’s mineral resources and update the long-standing 1951 defense agreement between the U.S. and Greenland. That earlier agreement established the legal basis for American military operations on the island during the Cold War and remains central to the U.S. presence there today.
Under the 1951 agreement, the United States is permitted to operate within designated defense areas across Greenland. The text states that the U.S. government may allow its public vessels, aircraft, armed forces, and vehicles free access to and movement between those defense zones throughout Greenland, including via territorial waters, by land, air, and sea.
The agreement further specifies that these rights include freedom from compulsory pilotage and from light or harbor dues. It also allows U.S. aircraft to fly over and land anywhere in Greenland, including in territorial waters, without restriction except where mutually agreed upon by both parties.
Supporters of Trump’s approach argue that expanding U.S. access and influence in Greenland strengthens Western security interests, particularly given the island’s strategic location in the Arctic and the growing competition among global powers. Critics, however, point out that Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly emphasized sovereignty concerns and insist that any cooperation must stop short of territorial control.
Nathanielsen’s comments highlight that tension. While acknowledging ongoing cooperation and negotiations with Washington, she made clear that Greenland views sovereignty as non-negotiable. Her remarks reinforce the position taken by both the Greenlandic and Danish governments as discussions continue over minerals, defense arrangements, and the future of U.S. involvement on the island.
As negotiations proceed, the disagreement underscores the limits of what Greenland is willing to consider, even as it engages with an administration determined to expand America’s strategic footprint in the Arctic.
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