The geopolitical chessboard of the Arctic was thrown into disarray as U.S. President Donald Trump's persistent interest in acquiring Greenland intensified diplomatic friction with Denmark, threatening the very foundation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as the new year began.
A Renewed Threat and a Stark Warning
The situation grew more volatile following the recent American military incursion into Venezuela. In response, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a grave warning on Monday, stating clearly that if President Trump ordered an attack on Greenland, the longstanding NATO alliance would be terminated. "If the U.S. chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops, including NATO and thus the security that has been established since the end of the Second World War," Frederiksen declared.
This stark ultimatum underscores the severity with which Copenhagen views the rhetorical and strategic pressure from Washington. Frederiksen has dismissed the idea of American control over Greenland as "absolutely absurd."
The Origins of Trump's Arctic Ambition
President Trump's fascination with the world's largest island is not new. The saga began during his first term in 2019, when he unsuccessfully offered to purchase Greenland from Denmark. The Danish government rebuffed the offer and instead committed to bolstering its own military presence on the island with a 1.5 billion Danish crown (approximately $320 million) investment in surveillance.
Since then, the rhetoric has hardened. In May, Trump remarked he could not "rule out" using military force to annex Greenland, while curiously noting he was not considering a similar action against Canada. Last month, he reiterated that the U.S. needs Greenland for its national security, appointing Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to "lead the charge." Trump has downplayed Denmark's historical ties, arguing, "They have no military protection... Denmark was there 300 years ago or something, with a boat. Well, we were there with boats too, I'm sure."
Greenland's Defiance and International Backing
The people of Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, have consistently rejected American overtures. Greenland's former Prime Minister, Múte Bourup Egede, stated unequivocally last year: "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale." Public opinion solidly backs this stance; an Axios poll from a year ago found that 85% of Greenlanders oppose joining the United States.
European allies have swiftly rallied behind Denmark and Greenland. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer affirmed his support for Frederiksen, and both Germany and France have confirmed their solidarity, presenting a united European front against the potential annexation.
The Strategic Prize: Why Greenland Matters to the U.S.
So what drives this contentious pursuit? The motivations are both strategic and economic. Greenland is three times the size of Texas and occupies a critical position in the North Atlantic, serving as a gateway between North America and Europe. Its location is invaluable for military and surveillance purposes in an era of renewed great-power competition, particularly in the Arctic.
The United States already maintains a significant foothold on the island through the Pituffik Space Base, also known as Thule Air Base, established after the Second World War. A 1951 defence agreement grants the U.S. the right to build and maintain military bases there. Beyond its geography, Greenland is believed to hold vast reserves of untapped mineral wealth, including rare earth elements critical for modern technology and defense manufacturing.
For Canada, a fellow Arctic nation, these developments carry profound implications. The stability of NATO is a cornerstone of Canadian defense policy, and a crisis over Greenland directly impacts continental security and Arctic sovereignty. The escalating words between Washington and Copenhagen create a precarious situation where longstanding alliances are being tested over control of a sparsely populated island with immense global significance.
