Leaders from across Europe have issued a forceful rebuke to Donald Trump, after his administration openly threatened to use American military force to seize control of Greenland. The dramatic confrontation on Tuesday night marks a significant escalation in tensions between the US and its NATO allies.
A United Front Against US Ambitions
A joint statement from the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Denmark declared unwavering support for Greenland's territorial integrity. The signatories, which included Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, vowed they would 'not stop defending' the vast Arctic island despite the pressure from Washington.
The statement explicitly asserted that 'Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.' The leaders also pointed to the longstanding 1951 defense agreement between the US and Denmark as a foundation of their partnership.
White House Doubles Down on Military Option
The European move was a direct response to days of escalating rhetoric from the Trump administration. A senior official confirmed the White House is actively exploring plans to either purchase the Danish territory or assume control of its defence. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Tuesday that 'utilising the US military is always an option' available to the commander-in-chief.
She framed the potential acquisition as a 'national security priority' vital for deterring adversaries like China and Russia in the strategically crucial Arctic region. Trump himself hinted that a decision on Greenland could come 'in about two months', following the stabilisation of the situation in Venezuela.
Geopolitical Stakes in a Warming Arctic
The crisis has laid bare the immense geopolitical value of Greenland. Its position controlling access to the Arctic Ocean and its untapped reserves of rare earth minerals have made it a focal point of global competition. The thinning Arctic ice is opening new trade routes and intensifying a scramble for resources, with both Moscow and Beijing seeking greater influence.
Russia has been bolstering its military bases in the region, while China has declared itself a 'near-Arctic state'. The US operates the critical Pituffik Space Base in Greenland under the 1951 treaty, using it for missile defence and space surveillance. Denmark has recently committed $2.3 billion to enhance its Arctic surveillance and sovereignty capabilities, including new naval vessels and drones.
The strong European stance, triggered in part by inflammatory comments from Trump aide Stephen Miller and a provocative social media post from his wife, has sparked fears of a fundamental fracture within the NATO alliance. As the Arctic becomes a new theatre of great power rivalry, the future of Greenland's 56,000 people and its frozen landscape now hangs in the balance, testing decades-old transatlantic bonds.
