Progressive congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez issued a stark warning to European leaders over the weekend, asserting that President Donald Trump is deadly serious about his ambitions to take control of Greenland. Speaking at the prestigious Munich Security Conference in Germany on Friday, Ocasio-Cortez participated in a panel discussion alongside US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, where the topic of US policy towards the Danish territory was raised.
A Clear Message from a Potential 2028 Frontrunner
Ocasio-Cortez, widely viewed as positioning herself as a Democratic frontrunner for the 2028 presidential election, began her response by expressing dismay at the current political climate. She lamented that partisan divisions have forced such critical questions to be discussed behind closed doors. The New York representative then articulated what she framed as the Democratic Party's stance, emphasizing unwavering support for European allies.
'We are shocked by the president's destruction of our European allies,' Ocasio-Cortez declared. 'His threatening over Greenland is not a joke, it is not funny. It threatens the very trust and relationships that allow peace to exist.' She confidently stated that the vast majority of the American people are committed to preserving these vital international partnerships and do not wish to see them undermined.
Echoing Danish Concerns Over Sovereignty
Her cautionary words mirrored those of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who also voiced serious apprehensions about Trump's intentions at the same conference. Frederiksen underscored that Trump remains 'very serious' about acquiring Greenland, an act she argued violates fundamental democratic principles of sovereign state representation. 'Can you put a price on a part of Spain, or a part of the US, or a part of anywhere else in the world?' she questioned rhetorically, highlighting the Greenlandic people's clear desire not to become Americans.
Strategic and Economic Motivations Behind the Push
The Trump administration has made securing control of Greenland a cornerstone of its second-term agenda. President Trump contends that the territory offers a strategic vantage point to counter Russian and Chinese expansion in the Arctic, a region gaining accessibility due to melting polar ice, which opens new shipping lanes and access to natural resources. Greenland is not only home to NATO military bases but is also rich in valuable resources including oil, gold, graphite, copper, iron, and rare earth elements.
Furthermore, US officials have suggested that Greenland could host infrastructure for a proposed Golden Dome missile defense system, designed to protect North America from ballistic threats. Ongoing meetings between US and Danish counterparts aim to negotiate a deal to advance Trump's Arctic vision, though the exact terms remain uncertain despite Trump's bold claim last month of securing 'total access' to Greenland.
Escalating Pressure and International Repercussions
Trump has aggressively pressured NATO allies, including the UK, framing Greenland as essential for collective security and accusing Denmark of negligence in addressing Russian threats. In a Truth Social post last month, he asserted, 'NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that "you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland." Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!'
His tactics have extended to economic threats, such as proposing a 10 percent tariff on countries like Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland after they deployed troops to Greenland—a move he retracted following a stock market crash. Currently, the US military maintains multiple bases in Greenland with potential for expansion, and Denmark might cede small territorial pockets for further US base construction, underscoring the high-stakes geopolitical maneuvering at play.
