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Europe resists US pressure over Greenland as Ukraine talks unfold
European leaders meeting in Paris to advance Ukraine peace efforts faced an unexpected challenge on Tuesday: US President Donald Trump's renewed push to acquire Greenland, escalating tensions with Denmark and raising alarms across NATO.
Greenland's strategic value sparks diplomatic crisis
Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory six times larger than Germany, has become a flashpoint after the White House declared it was exploring "unilateral options" to secure the Arctic island, including a potential purchase. A statement from press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that "utilizing the US military remains an option" at Trump's discretion.
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, attending the Paris talks, called the threat "serious" and warned that unilateral US action would collapse NATO's transatlantic alliance. "This would end the security framework Europe has relied on since World War II," she said.
Europe's divided response
Six major European powers-including the UK, France, and Germany-issued a joint statement reaffirming that Arctic security must be managed collectively through NATO and that Greenland's future is a decision for Denmark alone. However, the statement stopped short of directly criticizing Washington.
"Had all 27 EU members and the UK united behind Denmark, it would have sent a powerful message to Washington,"
Camille Grande, European Council on Foreign Relations
EU officials, speaking anonymously, described the episode as further evidence of Europe's "fundamental weakness" in dealing with Trump. While Nordic nations swiftly backed Denmark, Europe's "Big Three" initially remained silent before issuing cautious statements.
Military posturing and Cold War echoes
The US already operates a military base in Greenland, established during the Cold War, though personnel numbers have dwindled from 10,000 to around 200. Trump justified his demands by claiming Greenland is "covered with Russian and Chinese ships," a claim Denmark disputes. Meanwhile, Denmark has pledged $4 billion to bolster Greenland's defenses with drones, aircraft, and patrol vessels.
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller dismissed European military resistance, telling CNN: "Nobody's going to fight the United States over Greenland."
NATO's existential dilemma
Trump's stance has exposed fractures within NATO, where Article 5's collective defense clause is not considered applicable to conflicts between member states. Analysts warn the Greenland dispute could paralyze the alliance, particularly as Europe remains dependent on US intelligence, air capabilities, and command structures.
"Europe must reduce its security dependence on the US and speak with one voice,"
Camille Grande, ECFR
Former US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith urged European leaders to prepare contingencies, suggesting high-level meetings like the Munich Security Conference could be leveraged to coordinate a unified response.
Broader geopolitical fallout
The Greenland crisis unfolds against a backdrop of US military intervention in Venezuela, where Trump's administration detained the country's president over the weekend. European leaders, who are simultaneously seeking US support to counter Russian aggression in Ukraine, now face a paradox: defending sovereignty abroad while their own allies' sovereignty is threatened.
Trump's transactional approach to alliances has already weakened EU cohesion. Last year, the bloc failed to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine, opting instead for alternative financing. When Trump imposed 15% tariffs on EU goods, European leaders chose not to retaliate, fearing the loss of US security guarantees.
What's next?
With Trump's rhetoric growing more assertive, European officials are privately discussing contingency plans. Observers note that while public statements emphasize dialogue, behind-the-scenes preparations may include exploring alternative defense pacts or accelerating efforts to reduce reliance on US military infrastructure.
(16:30) NATO insiders report that European member states are struggling to even discuss the Greenland scenario in closed-door meetings, underscoring the depth of the crisis.
