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Trump has said he wants US to take over Greenland

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Danish prime minister spoke to Trump on Wednesday

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Trump has suggested tariffs if Denmark refuses

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Weight loss drug manufacturer to attend Thursday talks

(Recasts paragraphs 1-4 with Danish prime minister saying

country preparing in case of trade war, adds Vestas and Orsted

to attend, paragraphn 11)

COPENHAGEN, Jan 16 (Reuters) - The CEO of obesity drug

manufacturer Novo Nordisk and heads of other Danish companies

were expected to discuss preparations for a possible trade

conflict with the United States over Greenland with Denmark's

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Thursday.

Frederiksen summoned business leaders after speaking on

Wednesday with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who last week

refused to rule out military or economic action to take control

of Greenland, which is strategically important to Washington.

The Danish leader told a press conference Trump had not

retracted his threats of economic coercion during the phone

conversation.

"We don't want to have any kind of conflict with the

Americans in the trade area, but of course we are working with

the companies, with the business organizations and with our

European colleagues," she said.

Trump has said it was an "absolute necessity" for the United

States to take control of the vast Arctic island, a

semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, and suggested he would

impose tariffs on Denmark if it resists his offer to buy it.

Frederiksen told Trump in their 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, Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen, will participate

in the meeting, the company said on Thursday.

In the first nine months of 2024, Novo's U.S. sales totalled

115 billion Danish crowns ($15.86 billion), of which obesity

drug Wegovy accounted for 31.1 billion.

Alexander Lacik, CEO of jewellery maker Pandora

and Niels Christiansen, the CEO of toymaker Lego will also

participate, the two companies said, respectively. Carlsberg

said that its CEO, Jacob Aarup-Andersen, would also join.

The CEOs of wind turbine maker Vestas and Orsted

, the world's biggest offshore wind farm developer,

were also attending, the two companies said.

Shipping group Maersk said its executives would

not participate as they were travelling.

"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.

($1 = 7.2515 Danish crowns)