Trump threatens to annex Greenland "one way or another"

Denmark on a War Footing

In Copenhagen, shock quickly gave way to determination. Mette Frederiksen posted a strong message on Facebook and Instagram on Sunday, stating that Denmark is “a loyal and steadfast ally” in the midst of “significant rearmament,” and that it is “ready to defend its values—wherever necessary—including in the Arctic.” She reiterated that her country believes “in international law and the right of peoples to self-determination,” and that it upholds “the principles of sovereignty, self-determination, and territorial integrity.” These carefully chosen words sound like a warning.

Earlier in the week, the Danish prime minister had been even more direct, stating that a U.S. attack on a NATO member would mean “the end of everything.” The end of the Atlantic Alliance, the end of the security system established after 1945, the end of the international order as we know it. This is no exaggeration. Article 5 of the NATO Treaty stipulates that an attack against one member is considered an attack against all. If the United States attacks Denmark, technically, it is attacking itself. A paradox that could cause the Alliance to implode from within. And Trump seems willing to take that risk, declaring that “if it affects NATO, then it affects NATO. But, you know, they need us more than we need them.”

Europe on High Alert

European capitals are watching the situation with growing concern. If Trump can threaten Denmark today, who will be next? The European Union has called for respect for international law and the sovereignty of states, but these words ring hollow in the face of Washington’s demonstrated determination. Some European leaders are beginning to wonder whether the North Atlantic Alliance still has any meaning when the main guarantor of collective security itself becomes a threat to its allies.

European Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius even suggested on Sunday that EU countries should consider establishing a joint military force that could replace U.S. troops stationed in Europe. An idea that would have seemed unthinkable a few years ago, but one that is gaining traction in the face of Trump’s unpredictability. Europe is realizing that it can no longer blindly rely on the United States for its security. It’s a rude awakening, but a necessary one.

And that’s where we stand. The United States, supposed to be the pillar of NATO, is threatening a member of the Alliance. Europe, which has spent 80 years relying on the U.S. security umbrella, now finds itself having to urgently consider its strategic autonomy. It is both terrifying and, in a way, liberating. Terrifying because we realize just how fragile the international order is. Liberating because Europe no longer has a choice: it must grow up, take responsibility, and defend itself. Trump will at least have this one merit: forcing Europe out of its comfort zone.

Republican Lawmakers Stunned

What is striking about this situation is the reaction within the Republican Party itself. Usually, GOP lawmakers rally behind Trump, no matter what he says. But in this case, several voices are speaking out to openly criticize the president. Blake Moore, the Republican co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Denmark group, called the threat of annexation “needlessly dangerous,” noting that it would “tragically” constitute an attack on NATO. These are strong words that reflect a deep sense of unease.

Don Bacon, a Republican congressman who has criticized Trump in the past, did not mince words: “It’s a completely idiotic idea. Threatening an ally only weakens us, which is exactly what Russia and China love.” A lucid analysis that highlights the paradox of Trump’s strategy: in seeking to counter Moscow and Beijing, Washington is weakening its own alliances and playing right into the hands of its adversaries. Rand Paul, a libertarian senator who often aligns with Trump, admits himself that he doesn’t know “how much of this is just bluster.” Even his supporters are at a loss.

The White House tries to reassure

Mike Johnson, the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, tried to calm things down on Wednesday, stating that the White House is “exploring diplomatic channels” and that “the military option was part of general remarks.” It was an attempt to downplay the president’s statements, but it did little to convince anyone. Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, is set to meet with Danish officials next week. One can imagine the atmosphere.

The problem is that Trump has been very clear: he’s not talking about a lease; he wants “a deed.” This isn’t about negotiating a strengthened defense agreement or an economic partnership. He wants outright annexation. And when asked if this could affect NATO, he replies without batting an eye: “If it affects NATO, then so be it. But, you know, they need us more than we need them.” A statement that sums up his entire vision of alliances: transactional, unilateral, and deeply contemptuous.

What astounds me is this certainty. This arrogance. Trump never doubts himself. He never asks himself whether, perhaps, he’s going too far. No. He charges ahead, he threatens, he scorns. And the worst part is that he’s right about one thing: the Europeans do indeed need the United States more than the other way around—at least militarily. But is that a reason to treat one’s allies like vassals? To humiliate them publicly? To threaten their territorial integrity? No. A thousand times no. That’s not how you build lasting alliances. That’s how you destroy them.

Trump and Greenland: A Long-Standing Obsession

This isn’t the first time Donald Trump has set his sights on Greenland. Back in 2019, during his first term, he floated the idea of buying the island, sparking first laughter and then outrage in Denmark. At the time, Mette Frederiksen called the idea “absurd,” which led to the cancellation of a presidential visit to Denmark. Trump sulked, but he didn’t forget. Seven years later, he’s back at it, but this time with explicit threats of military action. The escalation is staggering.

The idea of buying Greenland is not new in American history. In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. In 1946, Washington offered Denmark $100 million to acquire Greenland, an offer that was politely declined. But we are no longer in the 19th century. The rules have changed. International law recognizes the right of peoples to self-determination. We can no longer buy and sell inhabited territories as if they were commodities. Except that Trump seems to be living in another century.

A Dangerous Precedent for the World Order

If the United States were to annex Greenland by force or coercion, it would set a catastrophic precedent for the international order. It would legitimize all future annexations, from Russia’s annexation of Crimea to China’s claims on Taiwan. How could Washington condemn Moscow or Beijing if it were to do exactly the same thing to a NATO ally? American credibility would be destroyed. The international system based on respect for borders and sovereignty would collapse.

The consequences would also be disastrous for the Atlantic Alliance. If a member can be threatened with annexation by the Alliance’s leader, what is the point of NATO? The Baltic states, Poland, and all those who rely on U.S. protection against Russia would legitimately ask themselves this question. Trust, once broken, is almost impossible to rebuild. Trump may be destroying in a matter of weeks what generations of American leaders have taken decades to build.

And that’s what terrifies me the most. Not just the fate of Greenland, important as it may be. But what it says about the state of the world. If the United States can threaten a democratic ally with complete impunity, if international law is no longer worth anything, if might makes right, then we’re returning to the law of the jungle. To the rule of the strongest. To a world where small countries have no guarantees, no protection. It’s terrifying. And that’s exactly what Trump is building: a world where only power matters. A brutal, ruthless, dangerous world.

A Moment of Truth for the West

The Greenland issue goes far beyond the fate of an Arctic island. It is a test for the North Atlantic Alliance, for international law, and for the very idea that democracies can unite around shared values. Mette Frederiksen is right to call this a “decisive moment.” What is at stake today is whether the United States will remain a reliable ally or become an unpredictable and dangerous power, even to its friends. The answer to this question will determine the future of the world order.

The Greenlanders, for their part, did not ask to be at the center of this geopolitical storm. They simply want to live in peace, preserve their culture, and decide their own future. But Donald Trump has decided otherwise. To him, Greenland is nothing more than a pawn on the chessboard of rivalry with China and Russia—a strategic territory to be acquired, whether through negotiation or by force. It doesn’t matter what the 56,000 residents think. It doesn’t matter what Denmark thinks. It doesn’t matter what NATO thinks. Trump wants his title deed, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get it.

Two dog sleds. That’s how the President of the United States sums up a people’s sovereignty. Two dog sleds versus destroyers and submarines. As if legitimacy were measured in metric tons of steel. As if rights were negotiated through threats. I watch this scene and wonder: where are we headed? What kind of world do we live in when the leader of the free world threatens to annex an ally’s territory? When 85% of a population that says “no” counts for nothing? When does force take precedence over law? Greenland may never become American. But this crisis has revealed something far more serious: Trump’s America is no longer the one that defended democratic values. It is the one that tramples on them. And that is infinitely more dangerous than any Russian or Chinese threat.