Denmark's prime minister summons business leaders following Trump's Greenland threat (updated)

Vestas Wind Systems A/S

16/01/2025 10:19

(Adds Novo Nordisk CEO to attend in paragraph 5)
       COPENHAGEN, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Denmark's Prime Minister
Mette Frederiksen called business leaders to a meeting on
Thursday after U.S. 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 Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory
of Denmark, and suggested he would impose tariffs on Denmark if
it resists his offer to buy the vast Arctic island.
        Frederiksen told Trump in a 45-minute phone conversation
on Wednesday that it was up to Greenland to decide its future
and that Denmark is willing to do more to strengthen security in
the Arctic. 
    She also emphasized that Danish companies contribute to
growth and jobs in the United States and that the EU and the
U.S. have a common interest in increased trade.
    The CEO of Danish obesity and diabetes drugmaker Novo
Nordisk  NOVOb.CO , Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen, will participate
in the meeting, the company said on Thursday.
    Denmark is also home to other global companies such as
brewer Carlsberg  CARLb.CO , toymaker Lego, jewellery maker
Pandora  PNDORA.CO  and wind turbine maker Vestas  VWS.CO .
    "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.
    The ministry declined to give any detail on the time for the
meeting or who was invited.
    Following Frederiksen's conversation with Trump, foreign
minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen also called members of the foreign
policy committee to a meeting on Thursday.

 (Reporting by Isabelle Yr Carlsson, Louise Breusch Rasmussen
and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
 ((Louisebreusch.rasmussen@tr.com; +45 21 27 97 79;))