Trump’s Greenland Warning Sparks Unease Among Allies
A sudden unease followed comments by US President Donald Trump suggesting that the United States could move forcefully to take control of Greenland if diplomatic efforts fail. According to Al Jazeera, Trump said Washington would prefer to secure Greenland “the easy way”, but warned that the option of doing it “the hard way” remained open. “If we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland,” he was quoted as saying. “And we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbour.” The remarks, made during discussions with industry leaders, have reignited a long running debate over the strategic Arctic island, which is an autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty. Trump argued that Greenland is vital to US national security, pointing to its location and the growing competition among major powers in the Arctic. The language has unsettled US allies, as the phrase “the hard way” is widely seen as hinting at pressure tactics that could go beyond diplomacy. Analysts say this could include economic leverage or other coercive steps, raising fears about respect for international law. Danish officials have pushed back strongly, stressing that Greenland is not for sale and warning that any attempt to take the island by force would damage relations and weaken Nato unity. In Greenland itself, political leaders have been equally firm. They have repeatedly said they do not want to become Americans and insist that decisions about their future must be made by Greenlanders alone. While no concrete action has followed the comments, the remarks have once again placed Greenland at the centre of global attention, exposing the growing strain between strategic ambition and long standing alliances.
| 2026-01-10 14:43:48