While US President Donald Trump’s renewed desire to acquire Greenland seems ominous, Denmark holds surprising leverage that could significantly impact US interests–and it lies mostly with a weight loss drug and a children’s toy.
Greenland, an autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty, has become a strategic focal point for global powers as the Arctic landmass is rich in rare earth minerals, oil, and gas. More importantly, its location within the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom Gap makes it a valuable asset for military operations and surveillance.
While Trump wanting to buy Greenland is not new–he publicly floated the idea of purchasing the island in 2019–this latest push has taken on a more aggressive tone. The president even suggested military intervention or economic coercion as potential tools to force Denmark’s hand.
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This was emphasized by the newly-confirmed State Secretary Marco Rubio echoing Trump’s wishes, saying that the president’s desire to make Greenland a US territory “is not a joke.”
In response, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen reaffirmed that Greenland is not for sale, emphasizing that “the Greenlanders are a people, and Greenland is a country.” More critically, Denmark has quietly explored economic countermeasures that could place substantial pressure on the United States. This is where Ozempic and LEGO can come into play.
Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical giant behind the blockbuster weight-loss drug Ozempic, supplies a significant portion of the US market. With 15% of American adults using or having used Ozempic, any restriction on its sale to the US could send shockwaves through the healthcare industry and consumer market.
Denmark could also leverage its control over LEGO, one of the world’s most recognizable consumer brands, to limit US imports. While this would not have the same immediate economic impact as pharmaceuticals, the cultural and brand ramifications could generate public backlash, especially among American consumers who view LEGO as a staple of childhood entertainment.
On top of that, A.P. Moller-Maersk, the world’s second-largest shipping company, is responsible for nearly 15% of global cargo transport. Any Danish-imposed restrictions on Maersk’s US operations could disrupt supply chains, increase import costs, and create significant logistical challenges for American businesses.
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Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has launched a diplomatic tour across European capitals to solidify opposition against Trump’s ambitions. EU leaders have thrown their support behind Denmark, warning that allowing the US to annex Greenland would set a dangerous precedent for global governance.
Following these developments, a YouGov poll found that nearly half of Danes now consider the US a significant threat to their country—more than those who view North Korea or Iran as a danger.
“We don’t want to be Danes. We don’t want to be Americans. We want to be Greenlanders,” declared Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede.
Despite Trump’s wishes, Greenland is not an unclaimed land open for American colonization, as it is officially recognized as Danish territory. In 1933, the Permanent Court of International Justice ruled in favor of Denmark in a territorial dispute over Greenland against Norway.
Although Denmark has a colonial history, significant steps have been taken to grant Greenland greater autonomy. The island’s 57,000 residents have been given home rule, a legislative body has been established, and a framework for self-determination is in place.
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