A Danish politician, Anders Vistisen, made headlines on Sunday by claiming the United States could seize control of Greenland “tomorrow” if it wanted to, simply by decree. Vistisen, who recently told President Trump to “fuck off” during a European Parliament session, pointed out that U.S. troops already outnumber Danish forces in Greenland.
“The ignorance around this is quite astonishing,” Vistisen told European media. “The U.S. already has more troops in Greenland than Denmark. They could basically just declare it occupied.” He noted that Denmark has no army base on the island and only a minor naval presence, meaning the roughly 300-400 U.S. soldiers stationed there already hold military dominance.
Trump’s Arctic Ambitions
The idea of Trump using force to annex Greenland seems far-fetched to Vistisen, but he didn’t entirely rule it out, saying, “You never know with Trump.” However, he added, “No one sees this as the most probable outcome…I’ll see it before I believe it.”
European NATO members are reportedly trying to keep Trump’s interest in Greenland off the agenda, fearing any military intervention could create an unprecedented rift between the U.S. and its allies. Meanwhile, Vistisen claims that Trump’s refusal to rule out military force has rattled diplomats.
Tensions also flared after reports surfaced of a heated call between Trump and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, during which Trump allegedly threatened tariffs unless Denmark handed over its crown territory.
Greenland’s Economic Realities
Vistisen argued that U.S. security concerns regarding Greenland are baseless, saying, “The U.S. already has all the military presence they want in Greenland, and if they wanted more, there would be no problem getting it.”
As for Greenland’s political aspirations, Vistisen was critical of its push for independence, describing the island as an “economic basket case.” With fewer than 60,000 residents and minimal infrastructure—no ports, roads, or sufficient local workforce—Vistisen claims Greenland can’t realistically govern itself.
The Danish government currently subsidizes Greenland to the tune of €1 billion annually, covering essential services like healthcare and education. “I don’t see anywhere in America where they have that setup,” Vistisen said, adding that Greenlanders should think twice before trading Danish welfare for U.S. oversight.
On mining, Vistisen dismissed claims that Greenland’s untapped resources could fuel its economic independence. He said companies have abandoned mining projects because the costs are exorbitant, with valuable minerals buried deep beneath the ice. “It’s way too expensive compared to mining in other countries,” he noted.
Vistisen highlighted the U.S.’s questionable track record with territories, such as the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. He claimed residents in these areas feel neglected, lack full voting rights, and are treated worse than Greenlanders under Danish rule.
Trump, he argued, is motivated by a desire to cement his legacy as an “expansionist” president, likening him to Andrew Jackson, who famously expanded U.S. territory.
Vistisen took aim at Denmark’s government, accusing it of amateurism for allowing Greenland’s politicians to engage directly with U.S. officials. He believes this has created unnecessary uncertainty over Greenland’s future.
“There is no realistic aspiration for what we can call a truly independent Greenland,” Vistisen stated. “It’s more a question of which superpower is going to take the place of Denmark if they want to have a different arrangement.”
Despite his strong words, Vistisen remained unapologetic about his coarse language toward Trump, saying it would be “interesting” if Parliament fined him for being harsh on the U.S. president.
In the end, Vistisen’s remarks paint a stark picture: Greenland is caught between global powers, and its future remains uncertain in the shadow of U.S. ambitions and Danish missteps.
