Greenland's Prime Minister warned: "Prepare for an invasion"; "Stock up on food and water"

The Prime Minister of Greenland, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, has warned that the island must prepare for a possible invasion by the United States following increasingly frequent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump about annexing the Danish territory.

Trump has repeatedly stated that taking over Greenland is essential for U.S. security, while the White House earlier this year did not rule out the possibility of using military force, which has raised concern among Greenland’s population and placed NATO allies in an awkward position.

Trump’s insistence on annexing Greenland has strained relations between the United States and its NATO allies. The U.S. president argues that the United States has a legitimate interest in controlling Greenland to strengthen its influence in the Arctic, a region of growing strategic importance due to the increasing presence of Russia and China.

European partners do not support this idea, and most Americans oppose it as well. A survey conducted by YouGov and The Economist in late January on a sample of 1,684 Americans showed that only 13 percent of respondents supported the use of military force to seize Greenland, while 32 percent would support purchasing the territory.

Greenland’s Prime Minister: “People are afraid”

Nielsen told NBC News that the Greenlandic government has urged residents to remain cautious and to prepare supplies of food, water, and warm clothing for at least five days. “If they decide to strike our infrastructure, we must of course be prepared,” he said.

When asked whether he had received assurances that NATO would, in the event of an invasion, go to war against the United States as a fellow member of the Alliance, Nielsen replied that he does not know whether NATO would guarantee fighting for them against another ally. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.

He said NATO countries have publicly expressed full support, but added that collective defense remains a difficult question with no easy answer. Nielsen also stressed that Greenland’s citizens do not feel safe and are afraid because of Trump’s statements.

Trump’s latest posts

Last week, Trump criticized NATO over Greenland on his social media platform Truth Social, amid the war in Iran. The president expressed frustration that allies had refused to support U.S. operations in the Middle East and did not rule out the possibility of leaving the military alliance.

“NATO WAS NOT THERE WHEN WE NEEDED IT, AND IT WILL NOT BE THERE IF WE NEED IT AGAIN. REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, BADLY MANAGED PIECE OF ICE!!! President DJT,” Trump wrote.

In January, he also posted that the U.S. needs Greenland “for national security,” describing it as a “key part of the Golden Dome we are building.” “NATO should allow us to take it over. IF NOT, RUSSIA OR CHINA WILL, AND THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN!” he wrote.

Nielsen had earlier sharply criticized Trump’s rhetoric, saying in January that the island “is not for sale.”

“Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States. Greenland does not want to be governed from the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States,” he said at the time.

Although Trump has repeatedly mentioned the possibility of taking over Greenland, no formal military plans have been announced so far.