Camilla Jessen
Donald Trump’s renewed calls for the U.S. to “get Greenland” have sparked widespread concern over global stability.
U.S. President Donald Trump has once again floated the idea of the United States acquiring Greenland, declaring, “We need Greenland very badly.”
While Trump insists this is a matter of international security, critics warn that the rhetoric—especially when paired with his refusal to rule out military action—risks fracturing NATO alliances and inflaming fears of a broader global conflict.
Asked by NBC News whether he would consider using force to take control of the autonomous Danish territory, Trump responded simply, “I don’t rule it out.”
That phrase has since sparked serious diplomatic concern, with some warning it could theoretically trigger NATO’s Article 5, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.
This was reported by Newsner.
Trump’s Greenland Obsession Resurfaces
Trump previously raised eyebrows with a similar proposal during his first term, but his recent comments have taken on a more urgent tone.
We have to have Greenland,” he told reporters in March. “It’s not a question of, ‘Can we do without it?’ We can’t.
He pointed to the strategic importance of the Arctic region, claiming that Chinese and Russian naval activity near Greenland necessitates a stronger American presence.
Denmark and Greenland, however, remain firmly opposed to any such idea.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen responded clearly in March:
We do not belong to anyone else. We decide our own future.
Trump also recently hinted at the idea of Canada becoming part of the U.S., though he has clarified that he does not believe military action would be necessary in that case.
His casual tone about redrawing borders of sovereign nations has drawn harsh criticism at home and abroad.
NATO at Risk?
The most serious concern now being raised by analysts and lawmakers alike is that Trump’s continued posturing could undermine NATO — the very alliance designed to prevent the kind of aggression he appears to be entertaining.
If the U.S., a founding NATO member, were to invade or occupy Greenland, a territory of fellow member Denmark, it would constitute a breach of NATO’s Article 5 — effectively an attack on the alliance itself.
While such a scenario remains hypothetical, the mere suggestion by a sitting U.S. president has already sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles.