By Micah Jonah
January 11, 2026
Sweden has sharply criticized what it described as threatening rhetoric from the United States towards Greenland and Denmark, with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson warning that the global rules based order is facing its most serious challenge in decades.
Speaking on Sunday at an annual security conference in northern Sweden, Kristersson said Stockholm was deeply concerned about recent statements and actions by the administration of US President, Donald Trump.
“We are highly critical of what the United States is now doing and has done in Venezuela in regard to international law, and probably even more critical of the rhetoric that is being expressed against Greenland and Denmark,” Kristersson said.
He stressed that Denmark has long been a dependable ally of Washington and deserved respect rather than pressure. “On the contrary, the United States should thank Denmark, which has been a very loyal ally over the years,” he added.
Kristersson warned that such language risks undermining international norms at a time when global stability is already under strain, noting that the rules based world order is under greater threat than it has been for many decades.
The comments follow remarks by President Trump on Friday in which he said the United States needs to own Greenland to prevent Russia or China from occupying it in the future. Trump has repeatedly claimed that Russian and Chinese vessels are operating near Greenland, assertions that Nordic countries have firmly rejected.
Sweden’s response aligns with broader European unease over the tone of US statements regarding Arctic security and territorial issues, as regional leaders seek to preserve international law and cooperation in the strategically sensitive area.
