The Painful Questions for NATO and the EU as Trump Revives Greenland Threat
Were Trump to make good on his ambition to bring Greenland under US control, would it mark not just an existential threat to Nato but also a major crisis for the EU?
Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed talk of bringing Greenland under U.S. control has reopened one of the most uncomfortable debates in modern Western geopolitics. What once sounded like a bizarre diplomatic proposal is now being discussed in far more serious terms — raising profound questions for NATO unity, European sovereignty, and the future of transatlantic relations.
Greenland is not just a massive ice-covered island in the Arctic. It is an autonomous territory of Denmark, a NATO member state, and a strategically vital location in an increasingly contested Arctic region. Any serious U.S. attempt to take control of it — especially through pressure or force — would trigger an unprecedented political crisis.
Why Greenland Matters So Much
Greenland’s importance goes far beyond its size and population.
Geographically, it sits between North America and Europe, making it crucial for:
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Arctic military surveillance
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Early-warning missile defense systems
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Monitoring Russian and Chinese activity in the polar region
The island also contains valuable natural resources, including rare earth minerals critical for modern technologies and defense industries. As climate change opens new Arctic shipping routes, Greenland’s strategic value is only increasing.
For Washington, control over Greenland is framed as a national security issue. For Europe, it is about sovereignty, law, and alliance trust.