Jared Evan

(Jewish Voice News) Greenland is drawing a hard line against President Donald Trump’s renewed push to bring the Arctic island under U.S. control, setting up a volatile White House showdown with Denmark as Trump openly warns that anything short of American ownership is unacceptable, as CNBC reported.

Greenlandic and Danish officials are scheduled to meet Wednesday with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio amid rising diplomatic tensions. According to CNBC, the talks come as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on Copenhagen and Nuuk over Greenland’s strategic role in Arctic defense and mineral supply chains.

Trump escalated just hours before the meeting. In a Truth Social post, the president said the United States “needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security,” calling the island vital to missile defense and Arctic dominance, CNBC reported. He argued NATO would be stronger with Greenland “in the hands of the UNITED STATES,” adding bluntly that “anything less than that is unacceptable.”

In a follow-up post, Trump claimed only the U.S. could counter alleged threats from Russia and China in the region, reinforcing his long-standing view that Greenland is central to American security interests, according to CNBC.

The response from Greenland and Denmark was swift — and defiant.

Speaking in Copenhagen on Tuesday, Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said that if the self-governing territory were ever forced to choose between Washington and Copenhagen, “we choose Denmark,” as CNBC reported. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stood beside him, saying it has not been easy to resist what she called “completely unacceptable pressure” from the United States.

Frederiksen warned that the standoff is far from over, saying the most difficult phase may still lie ahead, CNBC noted.

Trump’s renewed push has rattled European capitals, particularly Denmark, which remains responsible for Greenland’s defense. Frederiksen has cautioned that any U.S. military move against Greenland would mark a breaking point for NATO itself.

Security analysts say the consequences of failure are enormous. Ian Lesser, a distinguished fellow at the German Marshall Fund, told CNBC the talks carry “very high” stakes, warning that a breakdown would threaten not just NATO cohesion but the future of the alliance.

Lesser said discussions could include stronger European defense commitments in Greenland or expanded U.S. access to Greenland’s resources — but warned the meeting could just as easily end in open confrontation, CNBC reported.

The risk of a public rupture has revived memories of last year’s explosive Oval Office clash between Trump, Vice President Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which spiraled into a televised shouting match. European officials fear a similar scene if Wednesday’s talks collapse.

Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt described the standoff as a “profound crisis,” telling CNBC he does not expect a breakthrough. He said the decision for Vance to take a leading role signals a tougher U.S. posture and raises the likelihood of a hard, unresolved meeting.

“I don’t expect any resolution,” Bildt said, adding that the best-case scenario is simply the start of further talks, as CNBC reported.

Otto Svendsen of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said Greenland and Denmark have set aside internal differences to present a united front. He told CNBC that a clear U.S. statement affirming Greenland’s sovereignty would be a win for Copenhagen and Nuuk — and anything less would leave the door open to continued pressure.

As tensions mount, European leaders have rallied behind Greenland, insisting Arctic security must be addressed collectively. In a joint statement, leaders including France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz and Britain’s Keir Starmer said Greenland’s future belongs to its people and Denmark alone — a direct challenge to Trump’s uncompromising stance, CNBC reported.