On Jan. 21, President Trump reduced tensions in talks about his bid to acquire Greenland. During a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, he announced a “framework of a future deal” on Arctic security, which would focus on building the Golden Dome for Arctic missile defense. He also rescinded his tariff threats on European allies. Trump stated that this deal would ensure “total access” for United States’ security in the Arctic.
Before announcing this new framework, Trump had threatened to impose tariffs on European Union goods unless Denmark ceded Greenland . “I would like to make a deal the easy way, but if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way,” he said. European leaders attended an emergency European Council meeting, and Trump called off the tariffs immediately after.
Trump’s goal in Greenland is to implement his proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system., “The United States needs Greenland for the purpose of national security,” he said. Control over Greenland would ensure revisionist powers, such as Russia or China, would not have a closer access point to the United States and would provide the perfect location for Trump to build the Golden Dome. Additionally, the US seeks to break China’s monopoly on critical minerals such as neodymium and dysprosium which are both found in Greenland’s melting ice.
However, the Prime Minister of Greenland, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, rejects the idea of Greenland being “owned” since the United States and Greenland are partners. As for NATO, if the United States militarily invaded Greenland, it would not enact Article 5, which would cause all NATO allies to join together against the United States. However, an invasion could threaten the existence of NATO which has been around since the end of World War II.
Many European nations are also against the United States annexing Greenland due to the Treaty of 1951, which already gives the United States the ability to build new military bases, radar stations, airstrips, and ports and to deploy thousands of troops and install ground-based air defense systems in Greenland.
Despite agreeing upon a framework for a future deal, Trump’s rhetoric suggests he still views Greenland as essential. He made a final warning at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos. “I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force. All the U.S. is asking for is a place called Greenland,” he said. “You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no and we will remember.”
