[2][3] In 1801, Denmark became an ally of France and its war against Great Britain, and the Danish Navy seized American merchant ships.

Denmark was neutral in World War I, but suffered a significant disruption in trade, and decided its colonies were a financial burden, especially as the inhabitants were restive.

[5][6] During World War II, in April 1941, the United States worked with Henrik Kauffmann, Denmark's ambassador to Washington, to establish a temporary protectorate over Greenland.

In 2023, US President Biden met with Danish prime minister Frederiksen at the Oval Office and praised Denmark for 'standing up' for Ukraine in war with Russia.

[11] In the following days, Denmark, the US, the UK, and the Netherlands released a joint statement on delivering ‘high priority’ air defence equipment to Ukraine.

Former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen reaffirmed that Denmark would remain engaged in Iraq even as its troop levels declined.

Denmark is an active coalition partner in the war on terrorism, and Danish troops are supporting American-led stabilization efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Denmark's role in European environmental and agricultural issues and its strategic location at the entrance to the Baltic Sea have made Copenhagen a center for U.S. agencies and the private sector dealing with the Nordic/Baltic region.

In August 2004, the Danish and Greenland Home Rule governments gave permission for the early warning radar to be updated in connection with a role in the U.S. ballistic missile defense system.

[21] Following his re-election in 2024, the same U.S. president issued the following statement on his personal social media network, Truth Social, prior to re-taking office: "For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” to which Prime Minister Múte Egede responded in a written comment: "Greenland is ours.

The bomber crashed onto sea ice in North Star Bay, Greenland, causing the nuclear payload to rupture and disperse, which resulted in widespread radioactive contamination.

[27] In late 2024, Trump wrote in the Truth Social that the United States has an absolute necessity to own and control Greenland, citing reasons of "national security" and "freedom throughout the world.

[29] Former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief of staff Miles Taylor also indicated that Donald Trump might consider swapping Puerto Rico for Greenland during his presidency.

Both universities have made great strides to become highly recognized institutions of higher learning, as well as strengthening ties between Denmark and the United States", Crown Prince Frederik said.

[31] On 9 March 2011, Obama met with former Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen in the White House, where they discussed counter-terrorism, the Arab Spring and environmental issues.

Vance, in a February 2, 2025, interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News, stated that Denmark was "not being a good ally" and declared that "the U.S. does not care what the EU screams at them" regarding Greenland.