In reaction to fresh U.S. indications about purchasing Greenland, European nations are discreetly organizing backup plans. Officials from France and Germany claim to be developing coordinated strategies to thwart any unilateral U.S. action. According to Reuters, “Allies, including France and Germany, are working closely on a plan on how to respond in the event that the United States acts on its threat to take over Greenland.” Jean-Noel Barrot, the foreign minister of France, stated that he would bring up the Greenland issue during a meeting with the foreign ministers of Germany and Poland, emphasizing that any action must be taken “together with our European partners.” Berlin is “working together with other European countries and Denmark on the next steps regarding Greenland,” according to a German government source.
Allies have stated unequivocally that they believe Denmark and Greenland alone are responsible for Greenland’s future. The leaders of France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Denmark stressed in a joint declaration earlier this week that “Greenland belongs to its people” and that the island’s status cannot be changed by force. Arctic security has also been strengthened by Denmark’s government, which is in charge of Greenland’s defense under NATO. Copenhagen promised to increase its military presence in the Greenland region last year with 42 billion Danish crowns, or almost $6.6 billion. Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary-general of NATO, and other alliance officials have also emphasized that Greenland is protected by NATO because of Denmark’s membership. According to Johann Wadephul, the foreign minister of Germany, “Greenland will, in principle, also be subject to NATO defense since Denmark is a member of NATO,” and any need to bolster its defense could be addressed “within the framework of the alliance.”
A flurry of U.S. signals regarding Greenland has sparked a push to prepare for contingencies. The White House claims that President Trump is once again looking into ways to obtain the island, including as buying it or possibly using American troops. Despite Denmark and Greenland’s public declarations that the island is not for sale, a senior U.S. official informed Reuters that the administration is contemplating anything from purchasing Greenland to creating a new defensive alliance (a “Compact of Free Association”). Since then, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has made an effort to reassure allies that there are no plans for a military invasion. However, the continual American advances are being taken seriously by European capitals. This week, Mette Frederiksen, the prime minister of Denmark, issued a warning that any attack by the United States on a fellow NATO nation would “mark the end” of the alliance. Danish and Greenlandic officials have even called for immediate meetings in Washington to clarify the issue in addition to NATO negotiations, urging “a more sensible dialogue” rather than a shouting battle over the future of the island.
Solidarity and Arctic defense are priorities throughout Europe. The foreign ministers of the Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden have promised to keep boosting their investments in Arctic security and to maintain strong communication with the US and other NATO partners over the area. The belief that Greenland’s people, and thus Denmark, must decide any future and that outside intervention would be against NATO rules was repeated by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Greenland’s security is a shared priority, according to Danish and European authorities, because it is strategically important for North Atlantic defense and houses a U.S. missile warning base. At a joint press conference with the authorities of Denmark, Starmer declared, “Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark must determine the future of Greenland and nobody else.”
Washington has not yet made any overt military actions on Greenland. According to a senior French minister, Secretary Rubio informed European counterparts that an invasion is not on the table. U.S. officials claim that talks are centered on diplomacy and alliances. However, it is evident that European governments are hedging. Officials are outlining political, economic, and defense measures to prevent unilateral action, stressing that any attack on a NATO ally would result in a coordinated reaction. Future NATO and EU foreign policy talks are anticipated to address the matter. For the time being, Europe’s message is clear: the transatlantic alliance will handle Greenland’s defense collectively, and its status is not a negotiating chip.