EU backs Denmark as Trump eyes Greenland "one way or another"
The European Commission has reaffirmed that the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark, including Greenland, must be preserved. The statement followed Donald Trump’s appointment of a special envoy to the territory.
President Donald Trump stated that the United States must "obtain" Greenland "one way or another." He argued this is necessary to defend not only the U.S. but also "the freedom of the world."
Trump criticized Denmark, claiming the nation is not doing nearly enough to protect the territory. He specifically identified China and Russia as potential adversaries in the region.
A strategic shift in the Arctic
Greenland’s isolated position in the hostile ocean between North America, Western Europe, and Russia made it strategically vital during the Cold War. After the Soviet Union collapsed, the island seemed forgotten by global powers.
However, as tensions rise in a melting and increasingly militarized Arctic, the world’s largest island is back on the map. Trump revisited the territory's strategic value only hours after his second inauguration.
"We see Russian ships everywhere, we see Chinese ships everywhere—warships," Trump noted. At one point, he even suggested the U.S. could take Greenland by force, though the White House later clarified his intent.
Diplomatic friction and natural resources
Denmark summoned the U.S. Ambassador to Copenhagen in protest. Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen expressed deep indignation, calling the statements "totally unacceptable."
Vice President JD Vance has praised Greenland’s "incredible natural resources." Much like Ukraine, the island holds essential rare earth metals required for smartphones, electric vehicles, and computer chips.
Vance recently told Fox News that Denmark "is not a reliable ally" regarding its management of Greenland. This remark shocked Danish officials, citing their military support for the U.S. in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The reality of the frozen frontier
Historically, military planners joked that any invasion of Greenland would quickly turn into a search-and-rescue mission. The territory remains a land of frozen darkness with no roads between settlements and weak infrastructure.
However, the Arctic is warming and ice is retreating. Under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, the U.S. is obligated to protect Greenland, while a 1951 treaty gives the U.S. military broad access to bases there.
Today, only the Pituffik Space Base remains active, operating a global network of radars to detect ballistic missiles. Meanwhile, melting ice is opening new polar shipping routes that could bypass the Panama and Suez canals.
Trump’s recent declarations leave more questions than answers. Whether the U.S. seeks to address Arctic threats through F-35 fighter jets, new treaties, or diplomatic pressure remains unclear as confusion lingers over the island's future.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
