Trump’s Greenland ambitions spark three defense plans among allies
Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
Europe is concerned about recent statements by US President Donald Trump regarding Greenland’s necessity for America. European officials are considering several scenarios to protect the world’s largest island from possible actions by Washington, according to The Economist.
Three scenarios for protecting Greenland
In response to Trump’s statements, NATO allies have already sent about 35 troops to the island to strengthen its defense.
The first option for protecting Greenland is called “Tension Reduction” - an attempt to convince the American side that Russia and China do not pose a threat and to create a mission called “Arctic Guard.”
The second scenario, “Deterrence and Countermeasures,” involves applying economic pressure on the US, including sanctions against companies extracting Greenland’s resources without permission, the possible sale of US government bonds, and the closure of US military bases in Europe.
The third option, “Waiting for a New Target,” assumes that Trump will shift his attention to other issues, such as Iran or the 2026 elections, and that his statements about Greenland are a strategic bluff aimed at extracting concessions from Denmark.
Why Greenland is attractive to the US
Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark and the world’s largest island, with a majority Inuit population. More than 80% of the island is covered by ice, beneath which lie rich deposits of oil, gas, and rare metals.
The island’s territory is nearly three times the size of Ukraine, comparable to Saudi Arabia, and large enough to fit France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, and the UK simultaneously.
International reaction
European governments are closely monitoring the situation and considering measures to protect their strategic interests. Ensuring Greenland’s security has become a priority for Denmark and NATO, and working groups are preparing for talks with the US on January 18.
US President Donald Trump again stated the need to bring Greenland under US control in order to deploy the Golden Dome missile defense system, emphasizing that without immediate NATO action, the strategic island could be at risk of seizure by Russia or China.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said Greenland should become part of the US within the national security system and did not rule out a military takeover of the island to achieve this goal.
