Europe stands with Denmark in the face of Trump's threats over Greenland

LondonThe leaders of Europe's six major powers expressed their explicit support for Denmark and Greenland on Tuesday in a joint statement emphasizing that the Arctic island "belongs to its people." The message, signed by France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom, in addition to Denmark, comes in response to repeated threats from US President Donald Trump and some of his top aides to seize the Danish territory for reasons of national security. The sword of Damocles hanging over the Arctic island is just one more of the shockwaves. Therefore, the White House military against Nicolás Maduro, the deposed president of Venezuela.

Despite the firmness of the Europeans' position, the tone of the statement avoids a direct confrontation with the White House, in line with the continued strategic weakness of the Old Continent in the face of the Republican administration. The leaders insist that Arctic security must be addressed collectively, within the framework of the Atlantic Alliance, and respecting the principles of the UN Charter, such as sovereignty and territorial integrity. In this context, they recall that the Kingdom of Denmark—including Greenland, which is an autonomous territory dependent on Copenhagen—is part of NATO and that the United States remains an "essential partner."

The leader who has gone furthest in criticizing Washington has possibly been Pedro Sánchez. From the Spanish embassy in Paris, where the Prime Minister appeared after the meeting of the Coalition of Volunteers, chaired by Emmanuel Macron, to try to finalize the details of the possible peacekeeping force to be deployed in Ukraine if a ceasefire with Russia is reached, Sánchez spoke first about Trump's actions against Greenland: "Spain cannot accept this, just as it cannot accept that the integrity of a European state like Denmark is threatened. We will not remain silent in the face of the violations that are occurring, and therefore, Spain will not be complicit in this outrage. We will support our allied resources; we will stand with the rule of law, which is being weakened."

For their part, the foreign ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden reaffirmed their collective commitment to security, stability, and cooperation in the Arctic. In a joint statement, the five Arctic nations, all NATO allies, indicated that they have intensified deterrence and defense measures through new capabilities, increased military activity, a reinforced presence, and a substantial increase in security investments in the region. Furthermore, they declared their readiness to take even more steps in this direction in close coordination with the United States and the other members of the military pact. As in the first statement mentioned, the five signatories emphasized that Arctic security must be based on respect for the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, including the inviolability of borders. In this context, they recall that the Kingdom of Denmark – including Greenland – is a founding member of NATO and has historically cooperated closely with Washington on security matters in the region, especially through a 1951 joint defense agreement. The declaration concludes with a clear political message, says Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom, in addition to Denmark: "Any issue affecting Denmark and Greenland is the exclusive responsibility of Denmark and Greenland." This stance seeks to reinforce Nordic unity and the centrality of the international legal framework at a time of growing geopolitical tension in the Arctic.

"We are a superpower and we will behave like a superpower."

Despite the mild criticism from the White House regarding both texts, the latest statements from Washington point in a very different direction. Trump's deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, stated early Tuesday morning in an interview on CNN that under the "Trump Doctrine," the United States will use its military "unapologetically" to defend its interests, which he equated with the "future of the free world." "We are a superpower, and under President Trump, we will behave like a superpower," he emphasized. It has been almost a year since Donald Trump was sworn into office, definitively dropping the mask. Regarding the specific case of Greenland, Miller went even further in his CNN appearance, questioning "what right" Denmark has to the territory and asserting that "no one will fight militarily against the United States for [its] future." This position is perfectly aligned with Trump's own recent words, who throughout the weekend reiterated that Washington "needs Greenland from a national security standpoint." "The European Union needs us to have it, and they know it," he also said.

From Copenhagen, the response to the tycoon's tirades was swift. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned on Monday that a US attack against a NATO ally would mean the end of the military and security alliance built after World War II. It would be, she said, the end of "everything." For Trump, in fact, it would be a new beginning because it has been demonstrated that the president does not believe in the Alliance.

With this exchange of statements, Greenland's future is caught between the European reaffirmation of its people's right to self-determination and a US administration that openly displays its willingness to use force. The Arctic territory thus seems increasingly exposed to the geopolitical impulses of the US president.

The new onslaught from Washington against Europe has largely overshadowed the meeting of the Coalition of Volunteers, which brought together Volodymyr Zelensky's allies in Paris this Tuesday. In fact, the first statement from European leaders regarding the Danish autonomous territory was made public shortly before the meeting opened in the French capital with the thirty or so allies of Kyiv willing to participate in the plan to ensure that Russia does not violate the ceasefire, should an agreement never be reached.