The new year is ushering in a crisis that could be the worst in NATO’s history. Since his return to the White House, Donald Trump has been outspoken about his ambition to acquire Greenland, describing it as a matter of « national security. »
Yet Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has cautioned that American threats towards the Kingdom of Denmark could spell the demise of NATO.
Following a U.S. operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, Katie Miller, wife of Trump’s senior adviser Stephen Miller, shared a map of Greenland draped in the American flag with the caption, « SOON. »
The post, which triggered alarm throughout Europe, was echoed by Stephen Miller himself, who declared that Greenland should belong to the U.S. and that no one would oppose an American takeover.
For NATO, this represents the most troubling start to the New Year imaginable. The prospect that the U.S., a key member of the alliance, would employ its influence to seize territory from another ally’s domain is unthinkable.
The opening paragraph of the North Atlantic Treaty establishes the alliance upon the principles of the United Nations Charter, which mandates that international disputes are settled peacefully and that parties avoid threatening or using force in their international relations.
Denmark, a charter member of the alliance since 1949, has proven itself a steadfast partner to the United States.
The Scandinavian nation deployed forces to Afghanistan alongside American troops, enduring the highest casualty rate relative to population size among all NATO members.
American interest in acquiring Greenland is far from novel. The Arctic island has hosted a United States military installation since the 1950s.
Under a 1951 agreement between Washington and Copenhagen, the U.S. is permitted an expanded military footprint in Greenland; yet this falls short of the Trump administration’s ambitions. The White House contends that Greenland belongs to the Western Hemisphere and ought therefore to be regarded as American territory.
Washington’s position has been viewed as a blatant violation of international norms, leading Denmark’s defence intelligence agency to identify the U.S. as a potential threat to Danish national security. Nevertheless, Trump has stood firm, asserting that « Chinese and Russian ships everywhere » are prowling near Greenland and Copenhagen lacks the capability to safeguard it.
Mike Waltz, the former National Security Advisor, highlighted that Greenland’s abundant natural resources make it an attractive prospect for America. Danish authorities have indicated they would welcome additional U.S. military personnel on Greenland should Washington desire it, whilst Greenlandic officials have signalled their readiness for American commercial investment.
Were the « darkest hour » to arrive, with the U.S. employing military force to seize Greenland, « the essence of Article 5 and collective defense within NATO would lose its meaning, » according to analysis from the Atlantic Council. « The idea of NATO will be broken if the US takes Greenland, » warned Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide.
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