‘It would be war’: Danish MP says Denmark will defend Greenland if Donald Trump invades | World News

A Danish MP has claimed that his country will fight a war to defend the semi-autonomous territory of Greenland, if US President Donald Trump follows through on his promise of military invasion to acquire the island.“We will defend Greenland. If there is an invasion American troops, it would be a war. And we would be fighting against each other,” Rasmus Jarlov told CNN.

Denmark MP Rasmus Jarlov:“We will defend Greenland. If there is an invasion, American troops, it would be a war. And we would be fighting against each other.”pic.twitter.com/WShhaPa9Ik— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) January 20, 2026

Jarlov, an MP from the Conservative People’s Party and a former cabinet miner, acknowledged that the United States is militarily stronger, but said it was Denmark’s duty is to defend its land and its people.

He also said that Trump’s threats have irreparably damaged the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and have made the US an unreliable partner.

People protest against Trump’s policy towards Greenland in front of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Photo: AP)

‘No threat form China, Russia’

Jarlov, head of the Danish parliament’s defence committee, also rejected Trump’s claims that Greenland faces a threat from China and Russia.

According to Jarlov, Greenland is not threatened China or Russia. He pointed out that neither Russia nor China is anywhere close to being able to take control of the island.Story continues below this ad

Amid the escalating threat from the US, a host of European countries have sent a handful of their military personnel to Greenland, a move that has further annoyed Trump, who slapped them with tariffs.

Danish soldiers land at Nuuk airport, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

‘Europe will stand together’

When asked about European solidarity in Greenland against the US, Jarlov said he was confident about the continent standing together and bearing the cost.

“It is a big ask for other European countries to stand up to the US. It could cost them a lot of money if this escalates into a trade war or worse. But everyone can see this is not reasonable and that it simply doesn’t make any sense. So we are confident that we have the backing of our European allies and others, including Canada,” he said.

Danish Prime Miner Mette Frederiksen also echoed Jarlov and warned that “the worst may still be ahead of us.”Story continues below this ad

“We are now being threatened our closest ally,” she told Danish lawmakers on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the Prime Miner of Greenland, said his government is “working and taking this situation very seriously. Nielsen told The Associated Press that his government has had good meetings with NATO and its allies, and that all Western countries should be united “respect for national, territorial integrity (and) respect for international law.”