European leaders have issued a stark warning to Donald Trump after his administration openly threatened to use the US military to seize control of Greenland, sparking a major diplomatic crisis within the NATO alliance.
A United Front Against US Aggression
In an unprecedented joint statement on Tuesday night, the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Denmark declared they would "not stop defending" Greenland's sovereignty. The statement, signed by figures including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, vowed to protect the territory's "territorial integrity" and the "inviolability of borders."
The move comes following days of escalating rhetoric from Washington. A senior Trump administration official confirmed the President and his top advisers are actively exploring plans to purchase the Danish territory or take charge of its defence. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Tuesday that "utilising the US military is always an option" and called acquiring Greenland a "national security priority."
The statement from European capitals emphasised that "Greenland belongs to its people" and that only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning the island. It also pointedly referenced the 1951 defence agreement signed between the US and Denmark.
Geopolitical Stakes in the Arctic
President Trump has argued that the US needs to control the vast, resource-rich island – which is more than three times the size of Texas – to counter rising threats from China and Russia in the strategically crucial Arctic region. He hinted on Sunday that a decision may come "in about two months," once the situation in Venezuela stabilises.
The Arctic's growing importance is driven by climate change, which is thinning ice and opening new shipping routes, and competition for untapped mineral wealth. Greenland is a rich source of rare earth minerals, vital for modern technology. China has declared itself a "near-Arctic state" and Russia has been significantly bolstering its military presence in the region.
The US already operates the remote Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland under the 1951 treaty, which supports missile warning and space surveillance for NATO. The island also guards part of the strategic GIUK Gap, a naval chokepoint where NATO monitors Russian movements.
Potential Scenarios and Rising Tensions
Analysts are considering several potential outcomes:
- Military Invasion: The US, with the world's strongest military, could take Greenland by force with little immediate resistance.
- Coercion: Trump could use the threat of military intervention to force a deal.
- Free Association: US officials are reportedly constructing a potential deal where Greenland would sign a 'compact of free association' with the US, similar to arrangements with Pacific nations.
Tensions were further inflamed when White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller questioned the legitimacy of Denmark's claim to Greenland, stating "nobody is going to fight the US militarily over the future of Greenland." His wife, Katie Miller, posted a map of Greenland covered by the American flag on social media with the caption "Soon," hours after the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
This renewed US interest has stoked deep concerns in Europe about a potential fracture in the NATO alliance. Denmark is responding by strengthening its Arctic capabilities with a $2.3 billion plan for new naval vessels, drones, and satellite surveillance. The elite Sirius Dog Sled Patrol also enforces Danish sovereignty in Greenland's wilderness.
As the situation develops, European leaders have drawn a clear line, reaffirming their commitment to a core principle of international order while facing down pressure from their most powerful ally. The coming weeks will test the resilience of the transatlantic partnership.
