Reference News Network January 20 report: The Spanish newspaper "El Mundo" published an article titled "Mette Frederiksen: The Danish Prime Minister Facing Global Pressure in the Greenland Issue with Trump" on January 16. The author is Elena Perez. The full text is as follows:

For years, Mette Frederiksen has been low-key and focused on Denmark's welfare system and domestic political balance. However, in recent weeks, her name has frequently appeared. Greenland, this autonomous territory belonging to Denmark and also a strategic location in the Arctic, has pushed her into an unavoidable pressure center.

Danish Prime Minister, the Youngest in History

Mette Frederiksen was born on November 19, 1977, in Aalborg, the fourth-largest city in Denmark. She comes from a working-class family and has been actively involved in environmental and human rights activities since her youth.

Later, she obtained a degree in Management and Social Sciences from Aalborg University. Due to her strong interest in complex and challenging international affairs, she further pursued a master's degree in African Studies at the University of Copenhagen.

In 2001, at the age of 24, Frederiksen was elected as a member of the Social Democratic Party, and later appointed as the spokesperson for the party's cultural affairs, media, and gender equality group. Since then, she has continuously served as a member of parliament. After the Social Democratic Party won the election in 2011, she was appointed as the Minister of Employment in the Helle Thorning-Schmidt government, leading reforms in the labor market, early retirement system, and social welfare.

In 2014, she became the Minister of Justice, serving until 2015. During this time, she took a tough stance on maintaining public order and security, a style that later continued in her immigration policies as a party leader.

After the Social Democratic Party's electoral defeat in 2015, Frederiksen succeeded Thorning-Schmidt as the party leader. As an opposition party, she adjusted the party's strategy: defending the welfare state while implementing stricter immigration policies and taking a tougher stance on integration and security issues.

This shift sparked controversy both domestically and internationally, but it proved successful from an electoral perspective: it not only solidified the internal foundation of the Social Democratic Party but also enhanced intra-party cohesion.

In June 2019, the Social Democratic Party won enough seats to form a government. On the 27th of that month, Frederiksen became the prime minister, becoming the youngest head of government in Danish history and the second female prime minister.

Her first term was characterized by a minority government relying on support from other left-wing and centrist-left parties. The government agenda focused on social policy, employment, climate, and welfare. After the November 2022 election, Frederiksen continued to govern and formed a coalition government including the Social Democratic Party, the Radical Left, and the Moderate Party. Since then, she has governed with a broader majority, but still needs to seek consensus among allies with different ideologies.

Sticking to the Stance "Greenland Is Not for Sale"

Although she is low-key, there is no doubt that the attention she has received in recent months has continued to increase. Politico even listed her as the second most influential person in European politics and public policy among 28 people.

The list referred to her as the "North Star." The individuals on the list include U.S. President Trump in first place, German Chancellor Merkel, and Italian Prime Minister Meloni. It is worth noting that Frederiksen found an important partner in her collaboration with Meloni.

This Danish Social Democrat and the conservative leader of Italy are not in the same camp and do not have a wide range of common agendas, but they have repeatedly reached consensus on two key issues: immigration policy and strengthening European security. Frederiksen also emphasized this in an interview in March 2025.

"We share a very similar position on border control, returning undocumented or misbehaving migrants," she said after meeting with Meloni in Rome. Both sides emphasized that cooperation in combating illegal migration has been "very effective."

She has consistently called for Europe to accelerate its defense efforts to address the challenges posed by Russia.

The ongoing escalation of the Greenland crisis has become one of the most serious challenges of Frederiksen's tenure. Her chosen approach centers on upholding the existing legal framework and institutional coordination, avoiding verbal confrontation with Trump, and ruling out any ambiguity regarding the sovereignty of Greenland.

Since Washington has been exerting pressure, Frederiksen has consistently conveyed the same message: Greenland is not for sale. As early as 2019, she publicly condemned Trump's remarks as "absurd." Now, she further strengthens this stance through alliances and gaining multilateral support.

In this process, she has gained key support from the Prime Minister of the Greenlandic Autonomous Government, Jens Frederik Jensen. In the face of external pressure, the two have shown rare political unity, jointly emphasizing that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and the Western alliance.

In an interview, Frederiksen described herself as "quite ordinary" in private, highlighting another side of her serious official image. She stated that she tries to live "like most Danes," and this ordinariness is also reflected in her communication style.

In fact, she often showcases content combining her professional and personal life through social media platforms: for example, a selfie holding homemade cookies for Christmas greetings, conveying warm holiday wishes to thousands of followers. This also demonstrates her proactive attitude towards the digital age. (Translated by Wang Meng)

Original: toutiao.com/article/7597427936358187574/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author alone.