US President Donald Trump has instructed senior military commanders to prepare plans for a potential invasion of Greenland, according to international media reports.
According to the reports, Trump directed the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to explore military options for taking control of the Arctic island.
Sources cited by international outlets say that several hawkish figures close to the US president, emboldened by Washington’s recent military operation in Venezuela on January 3 — which led to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduroand his wife — are pushing to “move quickly to seize the island before Russia or China make a move.”
Military resistance and legal concerns
However, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff are said to be opposing the move, arguing that such an operation would be illegal and would not have the support of Congress.
Speaking at an event at the White House on Friday (January 9), Trump said:
“We’re going to do something about Greenland, whether they like it or not, because if we don’t, Russia or China will take Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as our neighbour.”
“I would prefer to make a deal the easy way,” he added, “but if we don’t do it the easy way, we’ll do it the hard way.”
Greenland leaders respond
On the same day, Greenland’s political party leaders issued a joint response following Trump’s remarks, stating:
“We do not want to be Americans, we do not want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders.”
NATO under pressure
Trump’s threats regarding Greenland have placed NATO in an uncomfortable position and have triggered concern in European capitals, which fear the alliance is failing to defend the rights of Denmark.
As reported by the Financial Times, NATO has not issued a public statement affirming the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Denmark and Greenland, nor has it responded to the US president’s declared ambitions for the vast island, which forms part of the Danish kingdom.
This silence has angered European members attempting to present a united front and ease transatlantic tensions, and stands in stark contrast to recent EU efforts to rally support around Copenhagen.
Accusations against Denmark
Trump has repeatedly accused Denmark of failing to adequately protect Greenland and invest in its security, citing what he claims is increased Russian and Chinese naval activity in the region. The White House has stated that military action was “an option”, alongside purchase or other methods of assuming control.
A direct challenge to NATO’s core principle
The situation presents a profound challenge for NATO and its Secretary General. A US invasion or attempted annexation would amount to a direct confrontation between two allies, calling into question the mutual defence clause of Article 5, widely regarded by member states as the cornerstone of the alliance.
“They are conspicuously silent,” an EU official told the Financial Times. “Rutte was supposed to be the person Europe could rely on to act as our ‘Trump whisperer’. But he wasn’t supposed to be this silent.”
“It is obviously difficult to discuss these matters within NATO,” a NATO diplomat said. “But if they don’t, it implies that we are all fine with what is happening.”
EU defence commissioner speaks out
EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius also commented on the situation.
“I am not aware of these discussions within NATO on Greenland or how they are taking place,” Kubilius said. “But simply looking from the outside, NATO appears to be in some kind of special situation,” noting that both Denmark and the United States are members.
“Ukraine is easy for us. Russia has long been the enemy. Greenland is far more complicated. The US is supposed to be our main ally. That makes everything much harder,” a senior Scandinavian diplomat added.
Source: CNN