Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reaffirmed that Greenland is not for sale after U.S, and President Donald Trump once again pushed for U.S. control of the self-governing territory. Speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Frederiksen said, according to CNBC, that Denmark is prepared to defend its territory and its sovereignty. Her remarks followed Trump’s comments in a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, where he suggested that Greenland should be controlled by the United States, not Denmark, according to the same source.

Greenland’s sovereignty at the center of U.S.-Danish tension

Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has been at the center of a diplomatic dispute since Trump first raised the idea of U.S. control in 2019. Frederiksen reiterated Denmark’s position that Greenland is not for sale, according to Euronews; she also emphasized that the Greenlandic people have the right to self-determination and that NATO allies must respect Denmark’s territorial integrity.

In a separate interview with CNBC. Frederiksen said. “We are ready to defend every inch of NATO, including our own territory.” Her comments align with Denmark’s long-standing stance on Greenland’s sovereignty, which has been reiterated at multiple NATO meetings and diplomatic engagements. The U.S. has not received any support from its NATO allies on the issue, and Greenland itself has consistently rejected any notion of transfer to the U.S.

Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland

Trump’s recent statements come as part of a broader pattern of U.S. frustration with NATO allies. At the summit. Trump criticized NATO for its reliance on U.S. leadership and criticized European members for not supporting the U.S. in its recent military actions, according to WOODTV. He also claimed that the Greenland issue had hurt his relationship with NATO — his comments echo those made earlier in the year, when he accused Denmark of underinvesting in Greenland’s security, according to Euronews.

Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland was also reflected in a visit by U.S. Senator JD Vance to the Pituffik Space Base in March, which was cut short after Greenlandic leaders expressed concerns over the political implications of the trip. Vance argued that Greenland was strategically important due to growing Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic, according to Euronews.

Greenland in pop culture and beyond

While the geopolitical dispute over Greenland continues, the island has also gained attention in pop culture; a 2020 film titled “Greenland,” starring Gerard Butler, is currently available on Netflix until June 30, 2026, according to Filmstarts. The film, which is set during a catastrophic event, has been praised for its emotional storytelling and focus on personal drama over special effects; a sequel, titled “Greenland 2,” was released in January 2026 and is available as a DVD and on-demand title but not on streaming platforms.

Despite the fictional nature of the film, it has contributed to a broader public awareness of Greenland, particularly among those who may not have been familiar with the real-life diplomatic tensions. The film’s release and subsequent sequel highlight how Greenland continues to capture the public imagination, even as the real-world issue of its sovereignty remains unresolved.