Denmark sent Trump team private messages on Greenland, Axios reports

Axios says the Danish government wants to convince Trump that his security concerns can be addressed without claiming Greenland

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute B Egede attend a press conference in the Mirror Hall at the Prime Minister's Office, at Christiansborg in Copenhagen, Denmark, Jan 10, 2025. REUTERS/Tom Little

Denmark sent private messages to US President-elect Donald Trump's team expressing willingness to discuss boosting security in Greenland or increasing the US military presence there without claiming the island, Axios reported on Saturday, citing two sources.

Trump, who takes office on Jan 20, has described US control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, as an "absolute necessity". He did not dismiss the potential use of military or economic means, including tariffs against Denmark.

Axios said that the Danish government wanted to convince Trump that his security concerns could be addressed without claiming Greenland.

A spokesperson for the Trump transition team did not respond to a request for comment on the Axios report.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said earlier this week that she had asked for a meeting with Trump, but did not expect it to happen before his inauguration. Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede too said he was ready to speak with Trump but urged respect for the island's independence aspirations.

Denmark has previously said that Greenland is not for sale.