By Micah Jonah
January 8, 2026
A Greenlandic lawmaker has insisted that Greenland is not for sale as United States President, Donald Trump and senior officials in his administration continue to push the idea of taking control of the autonomous Danish territory.
Aaja Chemnitz, a member of the Danish parliament representing Greenland, said it was important to find diplomatic solutions but stressed that Greenland’s position on its autonomy remains unchanged.
“Greenland is not for sale, and Greenland never will be for sale,” Chemnitz said on Thursday, welcoming planned talks next week between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Danish and Greenlandic officials.
Since returning to office last year, Trump has repeatedly said he wants to take over Greenland, citing its strategic importance in the Arctic and claiming Russian and Chinese vessels operate extensively in the region. His comments have drawn strong criticism from Greenland, Denmark, the European Union and several US allies, including Canada.
Earlier this week, the foreign Ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden reaffirmed their commitment to security and stability in the Arctic, stressing respect for international law and the inviolability of borders. They said issues concerning Greenland are for Denmark and Greenland alone to decide.
Despite the backlash, the Trump administration has refused to rule out military action. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said all options remain on the table, while maintaining that diplomacy is the administration’s preferred approach.
Concerns over US intentions have intensified, following the recent US military operation in Caracas that resulted in the abduction of Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro, an action widely criticized as a violation of international law.
Chemnitz said the planned talks with Washington present an opportunity to reduce tensions but warned that diplomacy must be rooted in mutual respect.
“We need respect,” she said. “In order to have diplomacy, you also need to have respect.”
