Denmark's prime minister summons business leaders

OSLO — Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called business leaders to a meeting on Thursday after US President-elect Donald Trump last week refused to rule out military or economic action to take control of Greenland.

Trump said it was an "absolute necessity" for the United States to take control of the vast Arctic island, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark, and suggested he would impose tariffs on Denmark if it resisted his offer to buy it.

"We are paying attention to what is happening and of course we are concerned," the head of the Confederation of Danish Industry, Lars Sandahl Sorensen, told journalists after the meeting.

Frederiksen told Trump in a 45-minute phone conversation on Wednesday that it was up to Greenland to decide its future and that Denmark was willing to do more to strengthen security in the Arctic.

Frederiksen described the situation surrounding Greenland as "serious" following the phone conversation with Trump.

Speaking to reporters after briefing the parliament's Foreign Policy Committee, Frederiksen acknowledged the ongoing tensions over Greenland. "We are in a serious situation," she said. "We are doing everything we can to handle this as wisely and well as possible."

She also emphasized that Danish companies contribute to growth and jobs in the United States and that the EU and the US have a common interest in increased trade.

Danish businesses are concerned about a possible trade conflict with the United States over Greenland, a major lobby group said on Thursday after the meeting, including CEO of obesity drugmaker Novo Nordisk.

In the first nine months of 2024, Novo's US sales totaled 115 billion Danish crowns ($15.86 billion).

Denmark is also home to other global companies such as wind turbine maker Vestas and Orsted, the world's biggest offshore wind farm developer.

"It's important that we have a good and constructive dialogue with the Danish business community. In a time of geopolitical tensions, we must seek dialogue and cooperation," Minister for Trade and Industry Morten Bodskov said in a statement.

Agencies - Xinhua