Greenland: US sees takeover as "only solution" ahead of Nato summit

The threats against Nato partner Denmark are not new: Earlier this year, Trump openly threatened a takeover of the strategically significant Arctic island. While he ultimately refrained from a forcible takeover and also withdrew the announcement of punitive tariffs against Germany and other European states should they not agree to a sale of the island. The underlying idea, however, is still viewed favorably by the United States.

Trump cited as justification that the territory belonging to the Kingdom of Denmark would otherwise not be safe from Russia and China, with the consequence that the United States would also not be safe. This concern about Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic has since formed the recurring framework of the US position.

Denmark and Greenland push back

The governments of Denmark and Greenland, however, reject the annexation plans emphatically and have at the same time opened talks with the Trump administration aimed at a compromise. This means that, ahead of the summit, the ball is also in the court of diplomacy between Washington, Copenhagen, and Nuuk.

As the official further elaborated, other options were indeed being examined. However, he named no concrete alternative. The Trump administration's "permanent" vocabulary suggests that Washington views the Greenland complex not as temporary bargaining chip but as a structural demand.

With his brazen claims of ownership over Greenland, Trump had already shocked the European allies this year. The threats were directed not only against Nato partner Denmark but also posed a stern test of the cohesion of the world's largest military alliance and of mutual alliance loyalty.

Strain on Nato cohesion

For the threats against an ally – including the threatened punitive tariffs against Germany and other European countries – touch the very foundation of Nato. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which provides for assistance in the event of an attack on a member state, lives from the trust that no member pressures another member. It is precisely this trust that is in question.

In addition: Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and, as part of Danish national territory, enjoys the protection of the alliance. A unilateral takeover by the United States would be barely compatible with the principles of Nato and of international law – even if Washington frames it as the "only solution" to security risks in the Arctic.

Geographically, the Arctic is rapidly gaining strategic importance. The melting sea ice is opening new shipping routes, raw material deposits are becoming more accessible, and both Russia and China are expanding their military presence in the polar region. In this environment, the United States argues that stronger control over Greenland is essential – pointing to "significant naval activity" in the region.

The Arctic in geopolitical competition

For the European Nato partners, the renewed US position means a difficult twin task. On the one hand, they want to uphold the obligation to assist Denmark and Greenland and defend the territorial integrity of an ally. On the other, they depend on American security guarantees – particularly with a view to the threat from Russia.

The talks between Washington, Copenhagen, and Nuuk are in full swing ahead of the summit. Observers interpret the fact that Trump has withdrawn the original punitive tariff threats as a sign of willingness to negotiate. The fact that the senior official has at the same time once again described the acquisition of Greenland as the "only solution" points to a large negotiating scope for Washington – and to a correspondingly small negotiating base for Denmark and Greenland.

Domestically, too, the issue carries weight for Trump: The idea of bringing Greenland into the US sphere of influence has long been one of his foreign policy trademarks. The wording "permanent" signals that this line is intended to hold beyond day-to-day political fluctuations.

What is at stake at the summit in Turkey

At the Nato summit in Turkey, the heads of state and government of the 32 member states will discuss the future direction of the alliance, in particular with regard to collective defense, burden-sharing, and the threat situation posed by Russia. The Greenland question is likely to be one of the dominant political issues beyond the official agenda.

Just how great the pressure on Denmark and Greenland actually is will become clear when concrete compromise proposals hit the table. Conceivable options could include expanded security agreements, stronger US military access, or economic cooperation – without a formal transfer of sovereignty. The fact that, according to its own statements, the US continues to pursue the "acquisition of Greenland" makes such models politically tricky.

What is certain: Ahead of the Nato summit, the United States has once again reaffirmed its claim on Greenland. The senior official spoke of a "permanent" solution and specified that, while other options were being examined, the acquisition of Greenland remained the preferred variant from the US perspective. The answer from Copenhagen and Nuuk remains clear: The island is not for sale.