In an extraordinary escalation of tensions within the Western alliance, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that US military action against Greenland would spell the end of NATO and the post-World War II security architecture. Her stark comments on Monday followed President Donald Trump’s renewed declarations of intent to acquire the strategically vital Arctic territory, creating the most serious rift between NATO allies in modern history.
Trump’s fixation on Greenland has grown more aggressive in recent months, particularly after the US military intervention in Venezuela that resulted in the detention of President Nicolas Maduro in New York. The president stated bluntly that America needs Greenland for national security reasons and suggested Denmark is incapable of protecting it. Trump indicated the issue would remain on his agenda, telling reporters to discuss Greenland again in 20 days and that he would address it more seriously in two months.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Greenland’s Prime Minister, pushed back firmly against the mounting pressure from Washington. In a direct message via social media, Nielsen demanded an end to the pressure tactics, insinuations, and annexation fantasies. While maintaining openness to dialogue, he insisted any discussions must occur through appropriate diplomatic channels and respect international law. Nielsen later attempted to calm fears among Greenlanders, stating that a US conquest of Greenland is not realistically possible and urging against panic.
The territory’s value extends beyond its symbolic importance. Greenland possesses untapped rare earth mineral deposits crucial for modern technology and sits along increasingly accessible Arctic shipping routes as polar ice continues to melt. The island also hosts a US military installation and occupies a critical position on the shortest missile flight path between Russia and the United States. Trump has repeatedly claimed that Chinese and Russian ships patrol Greenland’s waters, though representatives from Greenland have dismissed these claims as false.
The crisis prompted widespread condemnation across Europe. EU officials pledged to defend member states’ territorial integrity, while leaders from Britain, France, and Scandinavian nations issued statements affirming that Greenland’s future belongs solely to its people and Denmark. France specifically emphasized that borders cannot be changed through force. The controversy reached new heights when Katie Miller, married to senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller, posted an image suggesting imminent US control of Greenland, prompting accusations of disrespect from Greenlandic leaders.