
Denmark engages Trump on threats
The Danish government has reached out to President-elect Donald Trump following his threats against Denmark. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced the initiative on Thursday evening, joined by Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen. Frederiksen proposed a dialogue and has not been rejected, expecting that talks will be on track once Trump starts his term on January 20. This would mark his second presidency, after serving from 2017 to 2021. Trump has threatened military action to control Greenland and economic sanctions against Denmark. Frederiksen believes these developments are unlikely. Rasmussen advises to take Trump seriously but not literally, indicating the government takes the comments seriously but also recognizes legitimate American interests for dialogue. The government has been criticized for a diplomatic response compared to 2019’s rejection of Trump’s idea of buying Greenland as ‘absurd’. Frederiksen also hopes for unity within Denmark and its institutions in response to the situation.