Donald Trump that the United States could annex the autonomous Danish territory, calling for dialogue and respect for international law.

“That’s enough now,” Nielsen wrote on Facebook late Sunday. “No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation. We are open to dialogue. We are open to discussions, but this must happen through the proper channels and with respect for international law.”

Trump has renewed his calls to bring Greenland under U.S. control, citing its strategic location in the Arctic. While aboard Air Force One, he told reporters, “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it… We’ll worry about Greenland in about two months… let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days.”

The remarks drew swift criticism from Copenhagen. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said, “It is absolutely absurd to say that the United States should take control of Greenland.” She stressed that Greenland, as part of the Kingdom of Denmark, is a NATO member protected by the alliance’s security guarantees.

Tensions have intensified following a high-profile U.S. military operation in Venezuela, which Trump has said gives the United States a permanent presence in the region. European leaders have expressed concern that Greenland’s sovereignty could be threatened. French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said, “Borders cannot be changed by force. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders and the Danes, and it is up to them to decide what to do with it.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz echoed the sentiment in June 2025, emphasizing the inviolability of borders under international law, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated that territorial integrity is a fundamental principle. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also avoided backing Trump’s annexation claims, focusing instead on Arctic security and the strategic importance of Greenland without endorsing any transfer of sovereignty.

Trump’s push to acquire Greenland is not new. He first floated the idea in August 2019, prompting Denmark to cancel his state visit and describe the proposal as “absurd.” Since winning re-election in 2024, Trump has renewed the plan, appointing Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to Greenland in December 2025. U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited Pituffik Space Base in March 2025, criticizing Denmark for underinvesting in the island’s people and security.

Greenland has been under Danish control since the early 18th century and gained home rule in 1979. The island holds vast mineral resources, including rare earth elements vital for advanced technologies, and occupies a strategically important position in the Arctic.

In response to Trump’s latest remarks, Nielsen emphasized that Greenland’s future will be decided through proper international channels, not social media or unilateral assertions. “There is neither reason for panic nor for concern,” he wrote. “Our country is not for sale, and our future is not decided by social media posts.”

Rising temperatures and shrinking snowfall are prompting Europe’s ski resorts to reconsider how they operate, as the effects of climate change increasingly impact winter sports. With the Winter Olympics set to open in Milan-Cortina on February 6, some slopes in the Dolomites remain covered in snow, but in many areas, natural snowfall is unreliable. Resorts now depend heavily on artificial snow, a costly and environmentally taxing solution that is driving up ski pass prices and putting skiing out of reach for many Europeans.

Italy’s Belluno province, home to some of the country’s most famous slopes, illustrates the challenge. Scientists and Olympic officials warn that warming temperatures are affecting the entire Alpine region. A 2021 study by the University of Waterloo found that if global warming reaches four degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, only four former Winter Olympic sites worldwide would remain suitable for snow sports by mid-century. Even if global warming is limited to two degrees Celsius, half of current Alpine locations would struggle to host winter events.

Europe’s winter tourism industry, which generated roughly €180 billion in 2022, is concentrated in the Alps, spanning five EU countries, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. Germany has the most ski resorts in Europe, with 498, followed by Italy with 349 and France with 317. A 2023 study published in Nature Climate Change estimates that 53 percent of European resorts are at very high risk of insufficient snow under a 2°C warming scenario, with almost all resorts in southern Europe, including the Pyrenees and Apennines, at severe risk.

Artificial snow is being used to supplement natural snowfall, but it comes with high costs. Producing snow on a one-kilometer slope can cost €30,000 to €40,000, while water and electricity consumption are considerable. Snowmaking for one hectare of slope requires about one million liters of water, roughly equivalent to the annual consumption of 1,500 households. Across Europe, operating artificial snow systems for all Alpine resorts would consume around 600 GWh of electricity, comparable to the yearly usage of 130,000 four-person households.

These expenses contribute to rising ski costs. In the past decade, the price of a daily ski pass has increased by an average of 34.8 percent, with the steepest hikes in Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. For example, a Dolomiti Superski pass now costs up to €86 per day, up from €67 in 2021, while in Livigno, prices have risen from €52 to €72 over the same period. Rising costs, combined with the need for equipment and clothing, are making skiing increasingly unaffordable for most local families.

Experts warn that resorts able to maintain snow will likely attract wealthier international tourists, from countries such as the United Kingdom, Spain, and Greece. While this may provide economic benefits, it also raises environmental concerns, as additional travel increases greenhouse gas emissions, further fueling climate change.

François Hugues, a researcher at the French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, says, “Even resorts less impacted by warming need to rethink their business models and adapt to global warming, balancing economic survival with environmental sustainability.”

Crans-Montana in Switzerland held a day of mourning on Sunday for the victims of the New Year’s Eve fire at the Le Constellation nightclub, which killed 40 people and injured 121 others. Authorities have identified 24 of the deceased, most of them young adults, with many aged between 13 and 25.

Among those identified were 18 Swiss nationals aged 14 to 31, two Italians aged 16, a dual Italian–Emirati national aged 16, a Romanian aged 18, a 39-year-old French national, and an 18-year-old Turkish national, according to Valais cantonal police. DNA testing conducted at Lausanne Hospital matched parents’ genetic data with recovered remains. Families of the identified victims have received the bodies, while authorities continue searching for three missing Italians.

Hundreds of mourners gathered in Crans-Montana for an hourlong Mass at Chapelle Saint-Christophe, where a message of condolence from Pope Leo XIV was read. Bishop Jean-Marie Lovey conveyed the Pope’s sympathy, saying, “The Pontiff joins us in our sorrow… to support those who are suffering.” Attendees left the chapel in silence to the sound of the organ before joining a silent march toward the Le Constellation bar, many carrying flowers. Snow cannons on the surrounding slopes sprayed clouds of snow as the procession passed through the quiet town.

During the Mass, Father Gilles Cavin acknowledged the uncertainty faced by families waiting for news of their loved ones. “We pray for their friends, so deeply affected by the tragedy on what should have been a day of celebration and togetherness,” he said. Services were delivered in German, French, and Italian to accommodate the international victims.

Swiss authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the nightclub’s managers on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter, intentional bodily harm, and arson, Valais regional prosecutor Béatrice Pilloud announced. Investigators suspect that sparklers placed on champagne bottles may have ignited the fire after coming into contact with the ceiling. Authorities plan to examine whether the ceiling’s soundproof insulation complied with safety regulations, whether the sparklers were authorized, and whether fire extinguishers and emergency exits were adequate.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin declared January 9 a national day of mourning. Church bells across the country will ring at 2 p.m. for a minute of silence to honour the victims.

Severely injured survivors have been treated in Switzerland and other European countries. French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist reported that 17 patients were treated in France, with additional transfers to Germany, Italy, and Belgium planned.

The fire has shocked Switzerland and the international community, highlighting concerns over safety at crowded entertainment venues. Local authorities continue to investigate the incident as families and communities cope with the scale of the tragedy.