Former US President Donald Trump has reiterated his controversial ambition to acquire Greenland, stating he is "very serious" about the move despite stark warnings it could trigger the collapse of the NATO alliance.
'We Need It For National Security'
In an interview with Sky News' US partner network NBC News on Monday evening, Trump was unequivocal about his territorial designs on the vast, mineral-rich Arctic island. "We need Greenland for national security, and that includes Europe," he declared. "You know I'm very loyal to Europe. We need it for national security, right now."
Trump, who has been vocal about the issue since returning to the White House, argued that Greenland's strategic location was vital for the defence of the United States and its allies. He told The Atlantic magazine that "we need it for defence", following a US military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. While he offered "no timeline" for action, he insisted his intent was firm.
Danish Fury and NATO Warnings
The comments have ignited a major diplomatic crisis with Denmark, of which Greenland is a self-governing territory. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a forceful statement on Sunday, condemning the US stance. "It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the US needing to take over Greenland," she said. "The US has no right to annex any of the three countries in the Danish Kingdom."
Frederiksen delivered a grave warning about the potential consequences, stating that in the event of a US invasion, "everything stops… including NATO". The two nations are longstanding allies within the defence pact.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer swiftly aligned himself with the Danish leader. "I stand with her. She's right about the future of Greenland," he told Sky News, emphasising that Denmark is a close European and NATO ally. Starmer is due to meet international leaders, including France's Emmanuel Macron, at a Ukraine summit in Paris on Tuesday.
Broader Implications for Global Security
The escalating row has raised profound concerns about the future of the Western security architecture. Former UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told Sky News' Politics Hub that a US annexation of Greenland "would be a very, very severe crisis for NATO".
Wallace warned that such an action by the alliance's most powerful member would demonstrate that "legality doesn't matter" if "you're the biggest boy in the playground", potentially emboldening adversaries like Vladimir Putin. He stressed that if the US, which provides around 70% of NATO's capability, no longer respects the alliance's foundational principles, the entire structure is endangered.
To justify his assertive foreign policy, Trump has invoked and expanded the historic Monroe Doctrine, renaming it the "Donroe Doctrine". He claims it asserts American dominance in the Western Hemisphere, proclaiming it will "never be questioned again".
Despite the US maintaining the Thule Air Base in Greenland, there is no local appetite for a full American takeover. A visit by US Vice President JD Vance last year was met with a cold reception, and the commander of the US base was later dismissed after criticising Vance's remarks.
