Denmark commits $2 billion to Arctic defense amid Trump threat

Greenland is a self-governing Danish territory with approximately 56,000 residents, most of whom are Indigenous Inuit. Denmark colonized Greenland in the 18th century. Greenland gained home rule in 1979 and self-government in 2009, giving it control over most domestic affairs except foreign policy, defense, and monetary policy. Denmark still provides substantial financial subsidies to Greenland. Many Greenlanders support eventual full independence from Denmark.

Trump justified his annexation threats by claiming Greenland has strategic value due to Russian and Chinese presence. He stated, 'We need Greenland from a national security situation. It's so strategic right now, Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.' Greenland's location in the Arctic gives it importance as climate change opens new shipping routes and resource extraction opportunities. The U.S. already maintains Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) in Greenland under agreement with Denmark.

Danish Prime Minister MFMette Frederiksen strongly urged Trump to 'stop the threats' of annexing Greenland, calling the threats against 'a historically close ally' unacceptable. Frederiksen warned that an attack on Greenland would end NATO, stating it's hard to see how the alliance would recover from one member attacking another to seize territory. Her warnings highlighted the severity of Trump's threats to the NATO alliance, which depends on mutual defense and respect for sovereignty.

The leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom joined Denmark in defending Greenland's sovereignty. They issued a joint statement declaring 'Greenland belongs to its people' and 'It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.' This unified European response demonstrated alarm at Trump's threats and commitment to defending Denmark. The unprecedented joint statement reflected how seriously European allies took the threats.

Greenlandic Premier MBMúte Bourup Egede wrote, 'Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom.' Egede's statement reflected Greenlanders' century-long push for independence from Denmark. Trump's annexation threats complicated that independence movement by presenting a false choice between Danish sovereignty and American control. Greenlanders want independence, not replacement of one colonial power with another.

Some U.S. lawmakers from both parties issued statements criticizing Trump's threats, saying 'Sabre-rattling about annexing Greenland is needlessly dangerous. The Kingdom of Denmark is a NATO ally and one of America's closest partners.' The bipartisan pushback reflected concern that Trump's threats violated NATO commitments and damaged alliances. Even some Republicans worried that threatening allies undermined American credibility and global standing.

Trump's threats violate international law, which prohibits the acquisition of territory by force or threat of force. The NATO treaty commits members to respect each other's territorial integrity and refrain from using force against allies. Article 1 of the NATO treaty requires members to settle disputes peacefully. Trump's threats broke these commitments and raised questions about whether the U.S. would honor its NATO obligations under his leadership.

Trump appointed Ken Howery as U.S. Ambassador to Denmark in Dec. 2025. Howery is a PayPal co-founder and Trump donor who publicly supports U.S. acquisition of Greenland. Danish officials expressed they were 'deeply upset' by the appointment, viewing it as a signal that Trump intends to pursue Greenland acquisition diplomatically or through pressure. The appointment escalated tensions with Denmark and suggested Trump's threats weren't just rhetoric.