The Dispute Over Greenland

Greenland is considered the largest island in the world, with an area of approximately 2.2 million km². Although part of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland is an autonomous territory with self-government and its own parliament. The Self-Government Act, passed in 1979 and revised in 2009, grants the island autonomy in conducting domestic policy, while maintaining the monarch of Denmark as head of state. In addition, the 2009 version establishes changes regarding the exploitation of mineral resources in the territory, delegating responsibility to the self-government authorities.

With responsibility for Greenland's foreign policy, defense, and finances remaining in Denmark's hands, Denmark has the legal authority to block investments in Greenland's infrastructure on grounds of national security. In 1985, Greenland withdrew from the European Community and subsequently ratified an association agreement as an overseas country and territory. As for the island's participation in international organizations, Greenland is not a direct member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but is part of the alliance through Denmark.

The presence of US military bases on the island dates back to the end of World War II, established by the Greenland Defense Agreement signed by the United States and Denmark. As founding members of NATO, the countries recognized the possibility that the Danish kingdom might need Washington's assistance in defending Greenlandic territory, which made it possible to establish military installations on the island.

In January 2026, US President Donald Trump intensified pressure for Greenland— a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark— to come under US control. Trump reiterated that the US needs the island for security reasons and said they will get it “one way or another.” He argues that only the US could defend Greenland against advances by rival powers: the island is home to the Pituffik air base (formerly Thule Air Base), a key point in the US missile defense system in the region, as well as vast mineral and oil reserves. Trump even declared on social media that “the United States needs Greenland for national security purposes, it is vital to the Golden Dome [his missile defense project] that we are building. If we don't do it, Russia or China will.” Thus, his official justification is that only American control will guarantee the defense of the Arctic island against external threats, especially from Russia and China.

To advance this goal, Trump has resorted to economic and diplomatic pressure. On January 17, for example, he announced tariffs of 10% (rising to 25% in June 2026) on imports from eight European countries (including Denmark, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, and Norway), maintaining them until there is a “complete and total agreement” to purchase Greenland. These sanctions were justified by Trump as retaliation for the deployment of European allied troops to the region, thus stating that the presence of European military personnel in Greenland created a “very dangerous” situation for global security.

Trump also did not rule out the use of military force (he even said that the US could take it “by force” if necessary), although later, in a speech in Davos on January 21, he backtracked: there he stated that he does not want to use force and called for immediate negotiations on the acquisition. In addition, he formed a negotiating team led by Vice President James David Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address the issue directly with allies. Thus, his “means” include trade coercion (tariffs), diplomatic pressure (forced negotiations), and, in theory, the threat or use of military power—all articulated under the justification of a supposed strategic threat in the Arctic.

Since the late 1860s, when the first proposal to purchase Greenlandic territory by the United States arose, Denmark has been opposed to the idea. The land swap was again suggested by the US government in 1910 and 1946, facing refusals from the Danish kingdom. In 1951, US military forces began to establish themselves on the island with the aim of implementing areas for the defense of the territory, defined under the terms of the agreement signed between Washington and Copenhagen. Greenland also hosts Danish military bases whose main functions are monitoring, search and rescue operations, and defense of the territory's sovereignty. 

During his first presidential term, Donald Trump revived offers to purchase Greenland, which were opposed by the Kingdom of Denmark. Recently, however, US interest in acquiring Greenland has been resuscitated, with proposals for obtaining the island that include direct purchase, influence over independence, and economic and military intervention. Even so, the US military units stationed in Greenland are seen as a means by which the US could occupy the territory in order to avoid military resistance. In addition, the possibilities of adopting a Free Association Agreement between the United States and Greenland are being discussed, which provides for economic and defense assistance from Washington to the island, in view of the separation of the Arctic territory from the Danish kingdom.

At the end of January 2026, Danish and Greenlandic officials met with US representatives to address tensions surrounding control of the island. Despite the few results announced, Trump assures that the United States has achieved its objectives in Greenland “forever,” while the Danish Foreign Ministry has admitted that there are no resolutions to the impasse and that the diplomatic crisis persists, even though it has been appeased. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen clarified that work will be undertaken on two fronts: one related to NATO and the other focused on Denmark and Greenland's relations with the United States. It is believed that the two NATO member countries will renegotiate the terms of the 1951 defense agreement.

The European reaction was one of strong rejection of American pressure. In mid-January 2026, eight NATO countries— Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany— sent small contingents (officers or reconnaissance troops) to Greenland for the joint exercise “Arctic Endurance,” at the invitation of Copenhagen. This symbolic deployment of military forces was precisely the trigger used by Trump to justify his tariff threats. In response, the European Union and its main member states denounced Trump's initiative as unacceptable. On January 18, at an emergency meeting in Brussels, European ambassadors agreed to intensify efforts to dissuade Trump and even prepare retaliatory measures – such as a €93 billion tariff package on American products or the activation of the EU's “anti-coercion instrument.”

At the same time, European leaders publicly criticized Trump's threats. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called Trump's decision a “mistake” and questioned his credibility, recalling the EU-US trade agreement signed in 2025 (“when friends shake hands, it should mean something”). Senior European officials described the announced tariffs as “blackmail” and initiated a response package, including the temporary suspension of import tariffs on US steel and aluminum and preparing proportional retaliation if Trump proceeds. President Emmanuel Macron reacted harshly. He posted that “no intimidation or threat will influence us” and called the imposition of tariffs on allies “unacceptable.” Macron said the EU is ready to retaliate with its powerful trade “bazooka” (tariff retaliation instrument) if necessary. In Berlin, the government said it was monitoring events “in close coordination” with its European partners. The German government spokesman said that a joint response will be decided “at the appropriate time,” stressing the need for a unified European response to American threats. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was emphatic in defending Danish sovereignty. He declared that Greenland “is part of the Kingdom of Denmark” and that any decision about its future is up to “the Greenlanders themselves and the Danes.” Starmer also criticized Trump's tariffs as a serious mistake, stating that imposing taxes on allies who cooperate in NATO's common security was “completely wrong.”

Thus, in a joint statement, the eight countries reaffirmed their full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland, emphasizing that they intend to discuss Arctic security “based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The joint document stressed that tariff threats undermine transatlantic trust and could trigger a “dangerous spiral” in US-European relations.