Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Sunday urged President Donald Trump to stop threatening to take over Greenland, saying the United States has no right to annex the self-governing Arctic territory following his renewed calls for American control of the mineral-rich island.

Frederiksen's statement came hours after Trump reiterated his desire to acquire Greenland in an interview with The Atlantic magazine, published one day after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a military operation.

"It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the need for the United States to take over Greenland," Frederiksen said in a statement posted on the Danish government website. "The US has no right to annex any of the three nations in the Danish kingdom."

She said she was addressing the United States "very directly."

"I would therefore strongly urge the United States to stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people who have very clearly said that they are not for sale," Frederiksen said.

Trump renews calls for Greenland acquisition

In his interview with The Atlantic, Trump said the United States needs control of Greenland for national security purposes.

"We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense," Trump told the magazine, describing the island as "surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships."

Asked what the U.S. military action in Venezuela could portend for Greenland, Trump replied: "They are going to have to view it themselves. I really don't know."

The White House did not respond to a request for comment from the Associated Press.

Trump has repeatedly called for Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory and NATO member, to become part of the United States since returning to office. He has pointedly refused to rule out using military force to secure control of the strategically located island.

The Arctic island's position between Europe and North America makes it a key site for the U.S. ballistic-missile defense system. Its mineral wealth is also attractive as the United States hopes to reduce its reliance on Chinese exports.

Less than two weeks ago, Trump put the spotlight back on Greenland when he announced he would appoint Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as his special envoy to the territory.

Landry said in his volunteer position he would help Trump "make Greenland a part of the U.S."

Social media post heightens concerns

Concerns in Denmark and Greenland intensified Saturday after Katie Miller, the wife of Trump's influential deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, posted an image on social media showing a map of Greenland covered with the American flag.

Above the image, Miller wrote a single word: "SOON."

Miller, a right-wing podcaster and former aide to Trump during his first term, posted the image shortly after the U.S. operation that captured Maduro.

Denmark's ambassador to the United States, Jesper Moeller Soerensen, responded to the post by issuing what he called a "friendly reminder" that Denmark and the U.S. are allies.

"We expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," Soerensen wrote.

The ambassador noted that Denmark has "significantly boosted its Arctic security efforts" and has worked with the United States on that front.

"We are close allies, and should continue to work together as such," he wrote.

Greenland's leader calls comments 'disrespectful'

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen also criticized Trump's latest remarks, calling them disrespectful and linking them to the military action in Venezuela.

"When the President of the United States says that 'we need Greenland' and links us to Venezuela and military intervention, it's not just wrong. It's disrespectful," Nielsen said in a statement Sunday.

Nielsen said there was "neither reason for panic nor for concern" over the comments.

"Our country is not for sale, and our future is not decided by social media posts," he said.

He added: "Relations between nations and peoples are built on mutual respect and international law — not on symbolic gestures that disregard our status and our rights."

Nielsen had previously denounced U.S. rhetoric around Greenland in his New Year's speech.

"The lack of respect and condescension shown towards our country has affected us all," he said at the time.

NATO membership complicates any military action

Frederiksen reminded Trump that Denmark, and by extension Greenland, is a NATO member covered by the alliance's collective defense guarantee under Article 5.

She stressed that Denmark already has a defense agreement with the United States that provides Washington broad access to Greenland. Denmark has also increased its investment in Arctic security infrastructure in recent years.

Former U.S. ambassador to Denmark Rufus Gifford said in January 2025 that the entire NATO alliance would be compelled to respond to any military action against Greenland due to Denmark's membership.

Greenland is a vast island with a population of approximately 57,000 people. It has had extensive self-government since 1979, though defense and foreign policy remain in Danish hands.

The territory has the right to hold a national referendum on whether to declare independence under a 2009 agreement, but it remains heavily reliant on Danish government subsidies.

While most Greenlanders favor eventual independence from Denmark, opinion polls show overwhelming opposition to becoming part of the United States.

Denmark has sought to repair strained ties with Greenland over the past year while simultaneously investing in Arctic defense as part of efforts to ease tensions with the Trump administration.

Denmark on Sunday also signed onto a European Union statement underscoring that "the right of the Venezuelan people to determine their future must be respected" as Trump vowed to "run" Venezuela following Maduro's capture.

Trump, in his administration's National Security Strategy published last month, laid out restoring "American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere" as a central guidepost for his second term. He has pointed to the 19th century Monroe Doctrine and the Roosevelt Corollary as justification for an assertive approach to American neighbors and territories beyond.