US Vice-President, JD Vance, hosts a summit with the foreign ministers of Greenland and Denmark alongside US Secretary, Marco Rubio, at the White House on Wednesday to discuss the future of Greenland, the world’s largest island.
President Donald Trump declares he wants the territory and will acquire it “the easy way or the hard way”. Ahead of the summit, he emphasised US national security needs Greenland and stated NATO “should be leading the way for us to get it”.
Following recent controversial military action in Venezuela, Greenlanders take these statements literally, with anxious anticipation building for days.
Greenlandic voices reject sale
Local residents express strong opposition during street interviews. Amelie Zeeb removes her traditional sealskin mittens, known locally as pualuuk, to emphasise: “I would like to encourage Donald Trump to use both his ears wisely, to listen more and to speak less. We are not for sale. Our country is not for sale.”
Inuit writer and musician Sivnîssoq Rask states: “My hope is for our country to be independent and well-managed and not be bought.”
Mother Maria, carrying her seven-week-old baby inside her winter coat, adds: “I worry for the future of my young family. We don’t want all this attention here!”
NATO allies face off
Greenland functions as Denmark’s semi-autonomous territory, placing NATO partners in direct opposition. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warns that US forcible control would terminate the transatlantic defence alliance Europe has relied upon for decades.
The dispute further strains already damaged US-European relations since Trump’s White House return, while European leaders urgently seek Trump administration support for Ukraine peace.
President Trump insists Greenland’s security requires US control, warning China or Russia will dominate otherwise. Major European powers supporting Danish sovereignty urgently develop military proposals enhancing NATO presence around Greenland and the broader Arctic.
European military counter-proposals
The UK and Germany lead initiatives, while France announces a Nuuk consulate opening next month. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot calls it “a political signal” demonstrating presence in “this territory of the Kingdom of Denmark”.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz states: “We share the US concerns that this part of Denmark needs better protection. We simply want to improve Greenland’s security situation together.”
German Reservists Association Chairman Patrick Sensburg demands immediate stationing of one European brigade, noting Germany’s “special responsibility” and strategic Arctic training benefits.
NATO arctic security plans
Preliminary discussions encompass soldiers, warships, aircraft, submarines and anti-drone capabilities without defined troop numbers. NATO considers “Arctic Sentry” maritime patrol mirroring post-Ukraine “Baltic Sentry” protecting vulnerable undersea energy pipelines and internet cables handling billions in daily financial transactions.
Former NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu emphasises: “A lot more can be done in the Arctic.” She anticipates expanded UK/German exercises rather than mass deployments, noting existing maritime assets for Norway’s biannual Cold Response exercise. Denmark dispatched military personnel Wednesday “to prepare for their arrival”, hours before Washington talks.
Strategic military value
Greenland occupies prime position between US/Canada and Russia/Europe, dominating shortest continental US-Russia missile route. WWII US occupation prevented Nazi seizure after Denmark’s invasion; post-war purchase attempt failed. Both nations joined NATO founding; 1951 defence agreement permits unlimited US troops and bases.
Post-1991 Soviet collapse, US maintains Pituffik Space Base radar station. Critical GIUK gap between Greenland-Iceland-UK monitors Russian/Chinese vessels, particularly submarines transiting Arctic-Atlantic. Denmark pledged $4bn for surveillance despite Trump administration dismissal.
Expert warnings mount
Former US NATO Ambassador Julianne Smith calls Wednesday’s meeting “absolutely critical”, predicting a turning point. She questions whether NATO proposals satisfy White House territorial expansion goals over Greenland security.
Analyst Ian Lesser argues Pacific High North (Bering Strait’s Diomede islands) poses greater Russian threat, suggesting Trump’s Greenland focus prioritises economic security, including rare earth minerals vital for high-tech/defence industries, and emerging Arctic shipping routes.
Greenland PM Jens-Frederik Nielsen confronts “geopolitical crisis”, choosing Denmark over US pressure. Sara Olvig of Greenland’s Centre for Foreign and Security Policy warns Trump unpredictability risks NATO dissolution and democratic world order collapse.
Russia and China monitor closely alongside anxious Greenlanders.
Source: BBC
Also read: ‘We are not for sale’: Greenland fears US annexation
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