Trump's Greenland Threat Stirs Tensions in Europe and NATO

Thu Jan 08 2026 01:46:23 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

European leaders face difficult decisions as Trump pushes for control over Greenland, a move seen as a threat to both NATO unity and EU solidarity amidst the Ukraine crisis.

As Donald Trump reiterates his interest in Greenland, issues arise concerning NATO's collective security and the EU's response to US demands. The upcoming discussions reveal Europe's struggles to maintain a united front while navigating Trump's controversial tactics, especially in relation to security in the Arctic region and support for Ukraine.

Earlier today, the so-called Coalition of the Willing, largely made up of European leaders, met in Paris with envoys of US President Donald Trump, to try to make further progress on a sustainable peace deal for Ukraine.

With Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting a plan to end the war with Russia is 90% of the way there, no-one in that room wanted to jeopardise keeping the Americans onboard.

But there was an immense elephant in that grand Paris meeting, and the underlying atmosphere was extremely tense. Bear in mind the events of the last few days: the Trump administration's controversial intervention in Venezuela and the US president's insistence soon after that we need Greenland from the standpoint of national security.

Greenland is the world's largest island and lies in the Arctic as an autonomous territory of Denmark. Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's Prime Minister, was sitting opposite two powerful figures representing Trump: special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

She was under pressure from European colleagues not to antagonise the US over Greenland, fearing it could impact US support for Ukraine. In a joint statement, European nation leaders noted, Greenland is part of NATO. Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively, in conjunction with NATO allies including the United States.

However, some critics, including Greenland's Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen, expressed that the statement was slow to come and lacked acknowledgement from all EU member states, which could have presented a united front against the US administration’s threats. They argue that a common statement from the EU would have sent a powerful message regarding Danish sovereignty.

Despite Denmark's defense spending pledge regarding Greenland, the looming uncertainty remains about Trump's intentions and what they might imply for NATO's future. The fear amongst European leaders is not only about Greenland itself but also the long-term ramifications for transatlantic relations as Trump continues to assert aggressive geopolitical strategies.

Denmark's situation highlights the complexities of European politics, particularly in regard to national sovereignty and military alliances in the face of a US administration that often acts unilaterally.