A profound diplomatic crisis is unfolding over the Arctic island of Greenland, with fears mounting that former US President Donald Trump may attempt to seize the territory. Such an action, experts warn, could signal the effective end of the NATO alliance.
European Leaders Issue Unprecedented Warning
In an extraordinary moment marking a new nadir in transatlantic relations, European leaders have issued a joint statement directly warning President Trump to back down. The statement, released on Tuesday 6 January 2026, was unequivocal: "Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland."
This stern rebuke follows what observers are calling the 'mother of all diplomatic rows', ignited by Trump's renewed claims on the strategically significant island. The vast, ice-covered territory finds itself in the eye of an intense geopolitical storm, though daily life for its inhabitants continues calmly for now.
Greenland's Divided Response
Reaction on the island is mixed, with most Greenlanders becoming accustomed to Trump's persistent advances. Opinion polls indicate that the overwhelming majority reject any attempt at annexation by the United States. However, a very small minority welcomes the prospect.
One such voice is Jorgen Boassen, a local leader, who spoke to Sky News en route to Greenland's capital, Nuuk, from Copenhagen. "He will come. He has decided, you know. Nobody can change his mind, I know. I can feel that," Boassen stated, adding, "But I think it's not bad. It's a new opportunity for us."
This view stands in direct opposition to that of Greenland's elected government. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who campaigned for future independence from Denmark, released a forceful statement over the weekend condemning the American president's rhetoric. "That's enough now," Nielsen wrote. "No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation." He notably warned against comparisons of his country to Venezuela.
The Looming End of NATO?
The most severe consequences of any US action on Greenland would be felt within the Western military alliance. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has minced no words, stating clearly that an American move on Greenland would constitute an attack by one NATO member on another. This, she asserts, would effectively mean the end of the alliance itself.
The grave warning highlights a central tension: Donald Trump has historically shown little respect for NATO, and the strategic and resource-rich prize of Greenland might prove too tempting for him to resist, regardless of the catastrophic impact on transatlantic relations. Analysts fear that if Trump were to deploy armed forces, there would be little physically to stop them, despite certain international outrage.
There is a growing sense in diplomatic circles that, despite the warnings and the profound risks, President Trump may now go ahead with his plans. The situation presents a stark test of international law, alliance solidarity, and the limits of presidential power, with the frozen landscape of Greenland at its heart.
