Donald Trump and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen / News Øresund – Johan Wessman / EPA/EFE / collage: Free Press

Trump and Danish Prime Minister had a phone fight, he insisted he was serious about Greenland

In a heated and uncomfortable phone call with the Danish prime minister last week, Donald Trump insisted he was serious about taking over the island of Greenland, the Washington Post reported.Financial Times", citing senior European representatives.

The US president spoke with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen for 45 minutes, the British newspaper's sources said. The White House did not comment on the call, but Frederiksen said she stressed that the vast Arctic island, which is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark, is not for sale, noting that America is showing "great interest" in it.

Five current and former senior European officials with knowledge of the call told the Financial Times that the conversation was very sour and unpleasant. They added that Trump was aggressive and confrontational after the Danish prime minister's comments that the island was not for sale, despite her offer of greater cooperation on military bases and mineral exploitation.

"It was horrible," one person said. Another added, "He was very tough. It was a cold shower. It used to be hard to take him seriously. But I think it's serious and potentially very dangerous."

The details of the call are likely to deepen European concerns that Trump's return to power will strain transatlantic ties more than ever, as the US president puts intense pressure on some allies to give up their sovereign territories.

Trump began his second term publicly contemplating a potential takeover of Greenland, the Panama Canal, and even Canada.

Many European officials hoped that his comments about seeking control of Greenland for "national security" reasons were a negotiating ploy to gain greater influence over NATO territory, at a time when both Russia and China are vying for positions in the Arctic.

But the conversation with Frederiksen dashed such hopes, deepening the crisis between the NATO allies.

"The intent was very clear. They want it. Danes are in crisis mode now," said one person briefed on the call. Another said: "Danes are deeply terrified by this."

A former Danish official, who did not want to be named, told the FT: "It was a very difficult conversation. He threatened specific measures against Denmark, such as targeted tariffs."

In response to the Financial Times article, the Danish Prime Minister's office said it "does not recognize the interpretation of the conversation given by anonymous sources."

Greenland has only 57.000 inhabitants, but it is the entry point to new shipping routes that are gradually opening up across the Arctic; the island also has an abundance of hard-to-find minerals.

"President Trump has been clear that the safety and security of Greenland is important to the United States as China and Russia make significant investments throughout the Arctic region," a White House National Security Council spokesman said.

"The President is committed not only to protecting American interests in the Arctic, but also to working with Greenland to ensure shared prosperity for both nations."

Trump publicly threatened to impose tariffs on Denmark earlier this year if it resisted his demands over Greenland. He also refused to rule out the possibility of using military force to take control of the island.

"People really don't even know if Denmark has any legal right to it, but if they do, they should give it up, because we need it for national security," Trump said at a press conference a few days before taking office.

"I'm talking about protecting the free world," he added. "You have Chinese ships everywhere. You have Russian ships everywhere. We're not going to let that happen," he added.

Mute Egede, Greenland's prime minister, has repeatedly stressed that the islanders want independence, not American or Danish citizenship. But he has welcomed American interest in mining and tourism on the island.

Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen called a meeting of CEOs of major Danish companies last week to discuss Trump's threats, including potential tariffs against her country.

Trump's aspiration towards Greenland

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