Santiago, Chile – Mere days following Washington’s operation on Venezuela and the capture of Nicolás Maduro, U.S. President Donald Trump said the North American nation “needs” Greenland for national security purposes.
Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark which borders Canada, holds significant strategic and military importance in the northern hemisphere.
An alleged increase in the presence of Chinese and Russian vessels in waters near the island has prompted the U.S. to move to safeguard its interests in the area, aiming to prevent Eurasian powers from establishing a military or economic foothold in the Arctic.
Katie Miller, a far-right American political advisor and former communications director for Trump, shared a photo through social media platform X, showing Greenland covered by the American flag, accompanied by the word “soon.” The post was interpreted by several analysts as disregarding the island’s sovereignty.
A possible intervention by the U.S. sparked outrage in Denmark and across much of Europe, where countries maintain close diplomatic ties with America and are members of NATO. Greenland’s government responded swiftly:
“Threats, pressure, and talk of annexation have no place among friends. This is not how you speak to a people who have repeatedly demonstrated responsibility, stability, and loyalty,” said Greenlander Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen on Facebook.
“When the U.S. president says ‘we need Greenland’ and links us to Venezuela and military intervention, it’s not just wrong… it’s disrespectful,” he added.
The French and German governments have also expressed opposition to potential U.S. annexation plans. Sebastian Hille, deputy government spokesperson in Germany, said:
“It is absolutely clear that Greenland is an autonomous territory belonging to Denmark. Borders cannot be changed by force, and territories cannot be annexed by force.”
Meanwhile, the French government described Trump’s remarks as a threat to the island’s sovereignty. Spokesman Pascal Confavreux emphasized the importance of respecting diplomatic norms between the two countries, especially given their shared NATO membership.
Some analysts suggest the U.S.’s interest may be tied to the region’s raw materials, though this factor currently carries less weight than the island’s strategic geopolitical importance.
This shifting international landscape places NATO in a delicate position, as its European members are compelled to defend their sovereignty from both external adversaries and pressures from their American ally.
Greenland, once seen as a quiet and stable territory, has emerged as a testing ground for whether the borders of allied nations will be respected in today’s world, or if military security will ultimately take precedence over international law.
Featured image: President Trump meets with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Denmark
Source: Trump White House Archive via Flickr
License: Creative Commons Licenses
