A senior European leader has delivered a stark warning that a conflict within NATO over the future of Greenland would lead to catastrophic consequences for the Western alliance, as tensions escalate over former US President Donald Trump's persistent ambitions for the mineral-rich Arctic territory.
Tusk's Dire Warning on Alliance Solidarity
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated unequivocally that his country would not contribute soldiers to any mission in Greenland. He framed the prospect of aggression between NATO allies as an existential threat to the post-war global order.
'An attempt to take over (part of) a NATO member state by another NATO member state would be a political disaster,' Tusk declared. He went further, stating it 'would be the end of the world as we know it, which guaranteed a world based on NATO solidarity.'
His comments reflect deepening anxiety across European capitals following Trump's renewed assertions that Greenland is vital to American national security. Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States must acquire the autonomous Danish territory to prevent strategic rivals Russia or China from establishing a foothold in the increasingly accessible Arctic.
European Troops Deploy as Rhetoric Intensifies
Amid the growing unease, military personnel from several European NATO members arrived in Greenland on Thursday. Forces from France and Germany joined Danish troops for a series of exercises explicitly aimed at reinforcing the island's security.
Germany's defence ministry described the mission as a reconnaissance effort by several European allies to 'explore options for ensuring security in light of Russian and Chinese threats in the Arctic.' This deployment follows a meeting in Washington between US, Danish, and Greenlandic officials that failed to resolve what was termed a 'fundamental disagreement' over the island's future.
Denmark has significantly stepped up its military presence in Greenland, underlining Copenhagen's firm stance on maintaining sovereignty. Sweden and Norway have also confirmed they are sending personnel to the territory's capital, Nuuk.
Disputed Threats and Russian Alarm
Trump's rhetoric, including his claim that if Washington does not act, 'China or Russia will,' has sent shockwaves through the alliance. However, senior Nordic officials have directly challenged the US leader's assessment of the threat level.
Sweden's Defence Minister Pål Jonson stated on Wednesday that Trump was exaggerating the presence of Russian and Chinese vessels in the region. 'If you state that Greenland is flooded with Russian and Chinese vessels, that's an exaggeration,' he said, citing regional assessments.
Two senior Nordic diplomats with access to NATO intelligence briefings echoed this, with one telling the Financial Times, 'It is simply not true that the Chinese and Russians are there. I have seen the intelligence. There are no ships, no submarines.'
The situation has also drawn a sharp response from Moscow. Russia's embassy to NATO, headquartered in Belgium, expressed serious concern over the arrival of alliance forces in Greenland, accusing NATO of exploiting tensions to expand its Arctic footprint under a false pretext.
Meanwhile, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen conceded that more work is needed to 'find a common way forward' with the US, with further discussions on Trump's plans expected in the coming weeks. The escalating dispute over Greenland, driven by its strategic location and vast resources, now presents one of the most severe tests of NATO unity in the alliance's history.
