'Have to ask Britain!' Trump risks missing out on Greenland takeover as Danes give UK 'first dibs'
WATCH: Trump talks about Greenland and Denmark
GB News
Britain would have first rights to purchase Greenland before the United States, the Arctic territory's last Danish Minister has claimed.
Tom Høyem, Copenhagen's former permanent representative to Greenland, said Donald Trump would need approval from Sir Keir Starmer due to an agreement signed in 1917.
"If Trump tried to buy Greenland, he would have to ask London first," Høyem said.
The revelation comes as Trump has made clear to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen his desire to place Greenland under American control.
The UK could have first dibs to buy Greenland
Getty/PA
Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen said Greenland is not for salePADenmark was reportedly thrown into "crisis mode" following a 45-minute telephone conversation between Trump and Prime Minister Frederiksen. According to the Financial Times, the Danish Prime Minister told Trump that Greenland was not for sale despite his "big interest".
European officials briefed on the call described it as "fiery" and "horrendous", with Trump becoming aggressive and confrontational. The US President threatened to impose tariffs on Denmark unless it agreed to sell Greenland.
"The intent was very clear. They want it. The Danes are now in crisis mode," a source told the FT.
"The Danes are utterly freaked out by this," they added.
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PICTURED: Donald Trump's private jet touches down in Greenlandic capital of NuukREUTERSHøyem explained that "the United Kingdom demanded in 1917 that if Greenland were to be sold then the UK should have the first right to buy it."
The demand stemmed from Canada's status as a British dominion at the time, with the territory lying just miles from Greenland's shores. The two countries have shared a land border since 2022.
US President Woodrow Wilson agreed at the time that Greenland was and would always be Danish. Denmark has previously sold overseas territories, including the Danish West Indies to the US in 1917 for $25million, now worth approximately £560 million.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump expressed confidence in acquiring the territory, stating: "I think the people want to be with us...I don't really know what claim Denmark has to it, but it would be a very unfriendly act if they didn't allow that to happen because it's for the protection of the free world."
Greenland residents took selfies with Donald Trump Jr
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Trump cited national security as his main motivation for the acquisition. His son, Donald Trump Jr, visited Greenland last week, posing with residents wearing MAGA hats. A source on Trump's team said the planned expansion would send a "strong, deliberate message to Beijing" about American interests in the Arctic.
General Robert Brieger, the European Union's top general, has called for EU troops to be stationed in Greenland amid the escalating situation.
"It would make perfect sense not only to station US forces in Greenland, as has been the case to date, but also to consider stationing EU soldiers there in the future," the Austrian official said.
Denmark's Defence Minister Troels Poulsen has announced plans to spend £1.2billion to enhance security around the territory.
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