Fresh anxieties are surging across the Atlantic that the United States, under Donald Trump, could attempt a military invasion of Greenland. These fears have been ignited by the former President's recent actions in Venezuela and his renewed public insistence that the US "needs" the vast Arctic territory.
From Caracas to the Arctic: A Pattern of Territorial Ambition
The Trump administration's swift military strike in Venezuela over the weekend has thrown its other geopolitical goals into sharp relief. In its aftermath, Mr Trump explicitly stated that acquiring Greenland is a crucial objective for American national security. This position was formally reiterated by the White House on Tuesday, which confirmed in a statement that "the president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal".
Alarm bells have sounded primarily because US officials have pointedly failed to rule out the potential for a military takeover. The White House statement notably added that the US armed forces are at the "commander-in-chief's disposal", a phrase that has done little to assuage concerns. Greenland is a self-governing Danish territory that already hosts a significant US military base at Thule.
Diplomatic Rejection and Alliance Strain
While close Trump ally and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers the administration would prefer a simple purchase from Denmark, that avenue appears firmly closed. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has been unequivocal, stating: "The US has no right to annex any of the three nations in the Danish kingdom." The nation has long maintained that Greenland is "not for sale".
This stance has found robust support from key European powers. The UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Denmark issued a joint declaration asserting: "Greenland belongs to its people, and only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relations." Both Greenlandic and Danish officials have reportedly requested a meeting with Secretary Rubio to discuss the US claims.
A Potential Crisis for NATO's Future
The escalating disagreement over Greenland's sovereignty threatens to cause profound turmoil within the NATO alliance. The core principle of NATO is mutual defence, enshrined in Article 5 of its founding treaty. For the US to use any form of force against Denmark, a founding NATO member covered by Article 5, would effectively shatter the alliance's foundational trust and could spell its end.
The situation presents a stark geopolitical dilemma, pitting the territorial ambitions of a former US president against the steadfast sovereignty of a key European ally and the very integrity of the transatlantic defence pact.
