- Denmark deploys more than 100 combat troops to Greenland as Trump escalates threats to seize the resource-rich territory by force if diplomacy fails.
- Trump imposes rising tariffs on eight NATO allies, including Denmark, unless they abandon support for Greenland’s sovereignty under Copenhagen.
- Danish and Greenlandic leaders reject negotiations on sovereignty, warning military confrontation cannot be ruled out amid Trump’s refusal to deny force.
- NATO unity fractures as U.S. lawmakers scramble to defuse tensions while Trump demands total control of Greenland for defense and Arctic dominance.
- Greenland’s rare earth minerals, new shipping routes, and missile defense role fuel a high-stakes geopolitical showdown over Arctic sovereignty and resources.
The Arctic just became the latest flashpoint in global tensions as Denmark deployed more than 100 combat soldiers to Greenland this week, just as President Trump intensified his efforts to acquire the strategically vital territory. The move, framed by Danish officials as a NATO defense exercise, comes amid growing fears that the U.S. may resort to coercion – or worse – to secure control of the resource-rich island.
The Danish Armed Forces described the deployment as “a substantial contribution” to Greenland’s defense, emphasizing that its focus remains on Russia, not Washington. Yet the timing is hard to ignore. Maj. Gen. Søren Andersen, Denmark’s top Arctic commander, told Reuters last week that his priority is “not toward the U.S., not at all,” but rather on countering Russian threats. Still, the sudden military buildup follows Trump’s repeated threats to take Greenland “one way or another”, including hints at military action if diplomacy fails.
A permanent military presence?
Danish Army Chief Peter Boysen told local broadcaster TV2 that Greenland-based exercises could soon become “more permanent,” with greater allied participation. When asked whether a lasting troop presence might provoke Trump, Boysen dismissed the idea, stating, “We are practicing how to defend Greenland. Among other things, we are practicing the sharp confrontations we could face.”
The exercises, dubbed Arctic Endurance, involve Danish forces in Nuuk and Kangerlussuaq, with U.S. and Canadian aircraft set to arrive at the U.S. Space Force’s Pituffik base. NORAD confirmed the deployments were “long-planned” and coordinated with Denmark, but the timing aligns with Trump’s escalating rhetoric. Last week, he warned European allies via Truth Social that “NATO has been telling Denmark for 20 years that ‘you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland.’ Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!”
Trump’s tariffs and threats
The president’s latest salvo includes a 10% tariff on imports from eight NATO nations – Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland – unless they abandon support for Danish sovereignty over Greenland. The tariffs, set to rise to 25% by June, have triggered an emergency EU summit, with leaders vowing to resist what they call “unacceptable pressure.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told parliament that Copenhagen “can’t negotiate on sovereignty, identity, borders, and democracy,” adding that “the worst may still be ahead of us.” Meanwhile, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen acknowledged that while military force remains unlikely, it “cannot be ruled out.”
A test of NATO unity
The standoff has exposed deep divisions within NATO. While some U.S. lawmakers, like Republican Senator Thom Tillis, have called Trump’s Greenland push “nonsense,” others are attempting damage control. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) led a bipartisan delegation to Greenland last week, insisting he was “trying to bring the temperature down.”
Yet Trump’s refusal to rule out military action has only heightened tensions. When asked by NBC whether he would use force, he replied, “No comment.” His letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre was even more blunt: “The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland.”
Beyond its vast mineral deposits and strategic Arctic location, Greenland is a linchpin in U.S. missile defense plans, including the proposed Golden Dome shield. The island’s melting ice has also opened new shipping lanes, making it a prize for global powers. Denmark has governed Greenland since the 18th century, but its autonomous status means any change in sovereignty would require local approval, which is a prospect Greenlanders have repeatedly rejected.
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, stressed that Greenland’s future must be decided by its people, not foreign powers. French officials have even threatened to activate the EU’s “anti-coercion instrument,” a trade weapon that could impose sweeping retaliation on U.S. goods.
For now, Denmark’s message is clear: Greenland is not for sale. And with troops on the ground, Europe is making sure Washington knows it.
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