Europe Is Pushing Back Trump on Greenland
21st Jan. 2026
Donald Trump has again intensified a long-running geopolitical dispute. He insisted that the United States must acquire Greenland for the national security reasons, while refusing to rule out the use of military force. His remarks have been firmly rejected by Greenland’s leaders. Meanwhile, Denmark, which is a NATO member state governing the semi-autonomous Arctic territory, has also dismissed the proposal and has reaffirmed its sovereignty.
As a result, the confrontation has widened into a serious diplomatic row. Trump has threatened to impose sweeping new trade tariffs on several of his European allies. He also argued that opposition to his plan undermines western security at a time of growing competition with Russia and China. European governments, however, have warned that such a rhetoric, risks destabilizing transatlantic relations and dangerous escalation.
Why does Greenland matter strategically to the US?
Greenland is the world’s largest island that sits between North America and the Arctic Ocean. It covers overing roughly 2.2 million square kilometres, which is six times the size of Germany. There are about 56,000 residents, most of whom are indigenous natives. The majority of the citizens are concentrated along the south-western coast near the capital, Nuuk.
In addition, Greenland’s location gives it a major strategic value. Positioned along with the potential missile routes between Russia and North America, the island is well placed for early-warning radar systems. It’s also good for monitoring naval movements in the Arctic. During the Cold War, the US even considered deploying nuclear missiles on the island, although the plan was later abandoned due to technical challenges and Danish objections.
The United States has maintained a military presence in Greenland since World War 2. Today, Pituffik Space Base, also known as Thule Air Base, plays a central role in US missile detection and space surveillance operations.
Greenland’s natural resources add to the Global Interest
Beyond security, Greenland has also drawn international attention because of its natural resources. About 80% of the island is covered by ice, yet beneath it lie potentially significant reserves of rare earth minerals, uranium, iron, and possibly oil and gas.
These materials are increasingly important in global supply chains, particularly for clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing. Trump has focused heavily on access to strategic resources in other foreign policy dealings, which also includes Ukraine. Nevertheless, he has repeatedly denied that Greenland’s minerals are driving his interest.
Europe Pushes Back Against US Pressure
Denmark and its NATO allies have expressed firm opposition to Trump’s Greenland proposal. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasised that “Europe won’t be blackmailed” and reaffirmed Denmark’s sovereignty over the Arctic territory. Meanwhile, a joint statement from several European leaders also warned that Trump’s rhetoric could undermine transatlantic relations and trigger a dangerous downward spiral in Western diplomacy.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the tariff threat as “completely wrong”. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the “endless accumulation of new tariffs” was “fundamentally unacceptable”. In the conversation, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen added that the EU’s response would be “unflinching, united and proportional”.
European governments have consistently stressed that only Greenland and Denmark can decide the island’s future. In mid-January, Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with Danish and Greenlandic officials in Washington. Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, later said the discussions were “frank but constructive”, although he acknowledged a “fundamental disagreement”.
Why does Denmark look after Greenland?
Although Greenland lies on the North American continent, but it has been governed by Denmark. From nearly 3,000 kilometers away and for around three centuries, Denmark has controlled Greenland. During World War 2, after Nazi Germany occupied Denmark, the US forces moved into Greenland to establish military and radio stations. Following the war, American troops stayed, and a 1951 defense agreement granted Washington broad rights to operate bases on the island.
In 1953, Greenland became an official part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and its residents gained Danish citizenship. A 1979 referendum introduced home rule, which gives Greenland control over most domestic affairs, while Denmark retained responsibility for defense and foreign policy. Today, Greenland hosts both Danish and American military forces, and Denmark has proposed expanded NATO surveillance operations in the territory. The move was taken with the aim to strengthening security without altering sovereignty.
Web Resources on the US-Greenland Acquisition
1. NYTimes.com: Why Does Trump Want to Take Over Greenland?
2. FoxNews: Trump warns US can no longer think ‘purely of peace’ as he pushes for Greenland control
3. CNBC.com: Greenland should be prepared for ‘everything,’ prime minister says
4. AcademicBlock.com: Greenland Takeover Threats`