Mette Frederiksen has announced early elections in Denmark, calling the next four years “decisive” for the country. The vote is scheduled for March 24.
Addressing parliament, Frederiksen said, “We as Danes and as Europeans will really have to stand on our own feet. We need to define our relationship with the United States.” The move comes after US President Donald Trump previously threatened to annex Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, citing Arctic security concerns.
Trump dropped explicit threats of force last month but continues to press for US control over Greenland. Frederiksen emphasized that Denmark will not cede sovereignty, stating, “We must stick together in Europe, and we must secure the future of the Danish Commonwealth”—comprising Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands.
The Danish leader also stressed that security will remain a central political priority, noting the strategic significance of Greenland, which hosts over 100 US military personnel at a base in the island’s northwest. Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen rejected a US proposal to send medical supplies, insisting that healthcare is already free for Greenland’s residents.
Frederiksen linked the upcoming vote to her Social Democrats party, saying, “Whether I will continue to be your prime minister depends on how strong a mandate you give the Social Democrats.” The election will test public support for her government’s approach to national security and managing tensions with the US over Arctic sovereignty.
