Denmark’s prime minister summons business leaders following Trump’s Greenland threat By Reuters

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called a meeting of the country’s business leaders on Thursday after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump last week threatened military or economic action, such as tariffs, to take control of Greenland.

Trump said that it is an “absolute necessity” for the United States to take control of the huge Arctic island, which is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.

In a 45-minute phone call on Wednesday, Frederiksen told Trump that Greenland must decide its future and that Denmark is willing to do more to strengthen security in the Arctic.

He also emphasized that Danish companies contribute to US growth and jobs, and that the EU and the US have a common interest in increasing trade.

Denmark is home to pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk (NYSE: ), shipping group Maersk, brewer Carlsberg (CSE: ), toy maker Lego, jewelry maker Pandora (OTC: ) and wind turbine maker Vestas.

“It is important that we have a good and constructive dialogue with the Danish business community. In times of geopolitical tension, we must strive for dialogue and cooperation,” said Minister of Trade and Industry Morten Bodskov.

The ministry declined to elaborate on the time of the meeting or who was invited.

After Frederiksen’s conversation with Trump, Foreign Minister Lars Locke Rasmussen also called the members of the Foreign Policy Commission to a meeting on Thursday.