On Wednesday, President Donald Trump stated that NATO ought to assist the United States in obtaining Greenland, declaring that anything short of the island being under American control is unacceptable. His comments came just hours before Vice President JD Vance was scheduled to host discussions with Danish and Greenlandic officials.
In a social media post, Trump repeated his claim that the United States requires Greenland for national security purposes. He asserted that NATO should take the lead in helping America secure the territory, warning that otherwise Russia or China would — declaring emphatically that this outcome would not occur.
Trump wrote that NATO would be significantly stronger and more effective with Greenland controlled by the United States, and that any alternative outcome would be unacceptable.
Greenland, a self-governing territory belonging to Denmark, has become the focal point of a geopolitical controversy as Trump maintains his desire to possess it, while residents of its capital city Nuuk insist it is not available for purchase. The White House has not dismissed the possibility.
Later on Wednesday, Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are scheduled to meet with Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt in Washington to discuss the Greenland situation.
Greenland residents want the US to back off
On the narrow, snow-packed main thoroughfare in Nuuk, international media personnel have been intercepting pedestrians every few meters to solicit their opinions on a crisis that Denmark’s prime minister has cautioned could potentially lead to NATO’s dissolution.
Tuuta Mikaelsen, a 22-year-old university student, told the Associated Press in Nuuk that she wished American officials would receive the clear message to withdraw their demands.
At a press conference in Copenhagen on Tuesday, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated that if forced to choose between the United States and Denmark immediately, they would select Denmark, NATO, the Kingdom of Denmark, and the European Union.
When questioned about Nielsen’s remarks later on Tuesday, Trump responded that he disagreed with the Greenlandic leader, claimed ignorance of his identity and background, but warned that Nielsen’s position would create significant difficulties for him.
The strategic significance of Greenland lies in the fact that climate change-induced ice melting could enable shorter shipping routes to Asia and facilitate the extraction and transportation of minerals essential for computers and mobile devices.
This week, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced that Denmark would continue enhancing its military footprint in Greenland, emphasizing NATO-wide agreement that the alliance must assume increased responsibility for Arctic and North Atlantic security.
In his Wednesday social media message, Trump described Greenland as vital to American interests. He has also expressed his desire to acquire the island to broaden U.S. security capabilities, pointing to what he describes as threats from Russian and Chinese vessels as justification for American control.
But both
Heating engineer Lars Vintner commented that the only Chinese presence he encounters is at fast food establishments. He noted that despite regularly sailing and hunting in the area, he has never observed Russian or Chinese vessels.
His companion Hans Nørgaard concurred, adding that Trump’s statements regarding these supposed ships are purely imaginary.
Since Denmark has indicated that the United States, which already maintains a military presence, could expand its bases in Greenland, Vintner argued that security concerns are merely a pretext. He suggested Trump’s true motivation is to profit from the island’s unexploited natural resources.
Nørgaard stated that he submitted a police report in Nuuk protesting Trump’s aggressive conduct, asserting that American officials are making threats against Greenland’s population and the NATO alliance.
Mikaelsen, the student, explained that Greenlanders enjoy advantages from Danish affiliation, including complimentary healthcare, education, and study stipends, expressing her desire that the United States not deprive them of these benefits.
More diplomatic efforts
After the White House discussions, Løkke Rasmussen and Motzfeldt, accompanied by Denmark’s ambassador to the United States, are scheduled to confer with members of the Arctic Caucus in Congress.
Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) have jointly proposed legislation that would bar the expenditure of Defense or State Department funds to annex or assume control of Greenland or any NATO member’s sovereign territory without that ally’s approval or authorization from the North Atlantic Council.
A cross-party group of legislators is also traveling to Copenhagen later this week for meetings with Danish and Greenlandic authorities.
During the previous week, Denmark’s principal European partners united with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to release a declaration affirming that Greenland belongs to its inhabitants and that only Denmark and Greenland possess the authority to determine matters affecting them.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced via RTL radio on Wednesday that France intends to establish a consular office in Greenland on February 6, implementing a decision made last summer to create this diplomatic mission.
Barrot commented that assaulting a fellow NATO member would be illogical and counterproductive to American interests, noting growing opposition within the United States to such actions. He concluded that this coercive pressure must cease.
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Reporting contributions were made by Geir Moulson in Berlin, Lisa Mascaro in Washington, and Catherine Gaschka in Paris.