Former US President Donald Trump has dramatically intensified his long-standing campaign to claim Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, thrusting the remote Arctic island into the centre of a major international crisis. His renewed push, which includes threats of severe tariffs against European allies, has triggered unified outrage, mass protests, and serious questions about the future of the NATO alliance.
The Strategic Prize: Why Greenland Matters to World Powers
Greenland's immense value lies in its formidable geographic and resource wealth. Situated within the Arctic Circle, it offers a vital strategic outpost in a rapidly changing region. As climate change melts polar ice, new naval corridors and shipping routes are opening up, connecting the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Controlling Greenland would grant a nation significant military advantage in this emerging theatre, where both China and Russia are actively expanding their influence.
Trump's fascination is not new; he first publicly floated the idea of purchasing the island nation in 2019. However, he follows a historical precedent. The United States attempted to buy Greenland in both 1846 and 1946, with the latter Cold War-era bid valued at a sum equivalent to £970 million today. That period led to a little-known agreement allowing the US to establish the Thule Air Base, now called Pituffik Space Base, which remains a key site for ballistic missile defence with around 150 personnel.
A Treasure Trove of Resources and Immense Practical Challenges
Beneath its icy surface, Greenland is believed to hold staggering mineral wealth. It contains 31 of the 34 materials classified as 'critical' by Europe, including vast deposits of cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earth elements essential for manufacturing batteries, electric vehicles, and high-tech goods. The island is also rich in gold, platinum, diamonds, and potentially significant oil and gas reserves.
Professor Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen, a political science expert at the University of Copenhagen, highlighted the high stakes, noting, "Greenland’s potential is endless. What if the Chinese controlled all of this?... they would perhaps control 80% of the world’s iron production." However, he cautioned that tapping these resources is an enormous logistical challenge due to Greenland's extreme climate, months-long winters, and a road network of fewer than 100 miles, making mining and infrastructure projects exceptionally difficult.
Escalating Threats, Protests, and a NATO Alliance Under Strain
The situation escalated over a recent weekend when Trump threatened to impose punishing tariffs of up to 25% on European nations if obstructed from seizing Greenland. His targets reportedly include not just Denmark, but also the UK, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland—all NATO members who have expressed solidarity with Greenland.
European leaders reacted with unified fury, warning that such actions could dismantle NATO and critical US-EU trade agreements. Meanwhile, thousands of Greenlanders and Danes took to the streets of Nuuk and Copenhagen in mass protest, waving flags and holding signs declaring their homeland "not for sale" and telling America to "go away again."
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer criticised Trump's pressure campaign, advocating for "calm discussions" and stating, "A tariff war is in nobody’s interest." Despite calls for diplomacy, Professor Rasmussen suggested the threat of military force is a tangible bargaining chip, noting the US has shown a willingness to violate international law. "It’s like sitting down and placing a gun on the table before they start talking," he said.
While a direct military attack on a NATO ally is considered unlikely, experts like Nick Melvin of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) believe Trump's intent is clear. "There can now be little doubt the Trump team is planning to incorporate Greenland within the United States," Melvin stated, describing it as a potential key legacy of a Trump presidency.
The crisis leaves Greenland's 56,000 residents in a state of anxious uncertainty. As local Patrick Abrahamsen, 46, told reporters, "There is nothing we can do... No military alliance can stand up against the US. So we can just sit back and relax and hope for the best." With global powers circling and the geopolitical landscape shifting, the fate of the world's largest island hangs in the balance.
