Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the talks were “constructive” but that nothing “has changed” in the US position.
Published May 18, 2026
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen told US envoy Jeff Landry that Greenland was “not for sale”.
Mr. Landry, who was appointed by President Donald Trump last year to spearhead the purchase of the island, met with Mr. Nielsen and Greenland’s Foreign Minister Mute Egede in the capital Nuuk to discuss the future of the territory.
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President Trump has threatened to seize the autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, possibly by military force, arguing that doing so is critical to U.S. security.
Nielsen said the talks had been “constructive” but there was “no indication that anything has changed” regarding the US position, according to AFP news agency.
“The people of Greenland are not for sale. Greenlandic self-determination is not negotiable,” Nielsen said after the meeting, Danish TV station 2 reported. Landry did not immediately comment.
Greenland is “focused on finding solutions that work for all of us” and thwarting the threat of “annexation, takeover or takeover” of the country, Nielsen continued.
President Trump has long argued that the United States needs to occupy Greenland to prevent Russia or China from seizing it, and has accused Danish authorities of not doing enough to ensure Greenland’s security. The stance has caused unrest within NATO, with many European countries in the military alliance opposing the threat.
According to Danish Public Broadcasting, Landry said that when she arrived, Trump told her to “go over there and make as many friends as you can.”
“They asked for a meeting and we explained our situation and our position and explained that we have no intention of selling Greenland and that there is a red line that cannot be crossed: we own Greenland forever,” Egede said.
The foreign minister added that a group of experts from the United States, Greenland and Denmark is trying to find a solution to the situation, adding that the group’s efforts are “promising”.
President Trump said the island could become part of his territory because control of Greenland is important golden Dome defense system against nuclear attack.
