Donald Trump’s latest ambition to secure Greenland for the United States has sparked a firestorm of debate and diplomatic friction.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met privately with lawmakers on Monday to discuss the administration’s intent to purchase the Danish territory, as reported by the Daily Mail. This follows a White House threat to invade if necessary, though Rubio has signaled a preference for negotiation over force.
Rubio’s briefing, which included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine, initially focused on Venezuela’s future after the capture of Nicolas Maduro. Yet, when pressed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on potential military actions elsewhere, Rubio clarified the goal is to buy Greenland, not seize it through a Venezuela-style operation.
On Wednesday, Rubio told reporters on Capitol Hill about his upcoming meeting with Danish officials next week. Denmark, a NATO ally, had already requested talks after Trump’s renewed threats surfaced following Maduro’s capture early Saturday.
Tensions spiked further when Trump criticized NATO allies for not meeting defense spending targets, posting on Wednesday morning, “Until I came along, the USA was, foolishly, paying for them.” His sharp words, claiming Russia and China have no fear of NATO without U.S. backing, hardly soothe allies already rattled by his Greenland rhetoric.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that a U.S. takeover would signal the end of NATO. Leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the UK echoed her, asserting that Greenland “belongs to its people” in a joint statement on Tuesday.
Greenland’s significance stretches beyond its vast size, over three times that of Texas, to its critical role as a strategic hub since World War II. It guarded Allied shipping lanes then and now holds immense value with resources like 25 of the 34 rare earth minerals deemed critical by the EU.
While China dominates the global supply of these minerals, Greenland’s potential wealth, estimated at $4 trillion, remains untapped due to bans on offshore oil and gas extraction for environmental reasons. Trump’s interest clearly eyes this treasure trove, alongside the island’s position in Arctic and North Atlantic defense.
Thomas Crosbie, an associate professor at the Royal Danish Defense College, argued that a U.S. takeover offers no real security gain, stating, “The United States will gain no advantage if its flag is flying in Nuuk versus the Greenlandic flag.” His point cuts deep: America already enjoys access as a trusted ally, so why risk fracturing alliances over symbolic control?
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, after speaking with Rubio, reiterated on Wednesday that any aggression toward a NATO member like Denmark would jeopardize U.S. standing in the alliance. He noted to France Inter radio, “In the United States, there is massive support for the country belonging to NATO,” signaling a warning against reckless moves.
Even within the U.S., not all Republicans align with Trump’s stance on Greenland. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis, leaders of the bipartisan Senate NATO Observer Group, condemned the rhetoric, urging respect for Denmark’s sovereignty and NATO’s principles of self-determination.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland’s Vivian Motzfeldt have sought direct dialogue with Rubio, as announced on Greenland’s government website on Tuesday. Their urgency reflects a broader European unease after Trump’s threats, compounded by actions like seizing a Russian oil tanker off Scotland’s north coast.
Crosbie also highlighted the global fallout of any annexation, pointing to an “erosion of the rule of law” and shattered norms of protection. His sobering view suggests the real damage lies not in military clashes but in redrawing maps through coercion, undermining trust worldwide.
The U.S. already operates Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, a foothold that could be mobilized if tensions boil over. Yet Crosbie believes no additional firepower is needed, as current personnel could simply claim control without violent escalation, a chilling prospect for locals.
Denmark’s parliament last June expanded a military agreement allowing U.S. bases on its soil, though Rasmussen affirmed the ability to terminate it if annexation attempts emerge. With JD Vance’s visit to Pituffik last March and ongoing U.S. presence, the line between cooperation and overreach feels perilously thin, leaving allies and Greenland’s people caught in a geopolitical tug-of-war.