'Anything less is unacceptable': Trump pushes NATO to back US control of Greenland

US President Donald Trump has reignited controversy by insisting that NATO should help the United States acquire Greenland, declaring that anything short of American control is “unacceptable”. The remarks came just hours before Vice President JD Vance was set to host Danish and Greenlandic officials in Washington for high-level talks.

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Trump repeated his long-standing argument that the US “needs Greenland for the purpose of national security” and warned that if Washington does not act, Russia or China might step in, a scenario he claimed would not be allowed.

“NATO should be leading the way,” says Trump

In a post on his social media platform, Trump argued that NATO would become “far more formidable and effective” if Greenland were under US control. He added that NATO should actively support Washington’s efforts to obtain the Arctic island.

As per an AP report, the White House has not ruled out the possibility of taking Greenland by force, a stance that has alarmed allies and raised serious questions about NATO unity.

Greenland firmly rejects idea of being “for sale”

Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, has found itself at the centre of a growing geopolitical storm. Residents of its capital, Nuuk, have made it clear they oppose Trump’s claims.

An AP report quoted 22-year-old student Tuuta Mikaelsen as saying she hoped American officials would “back off”, reflecting a broader sentiment among locals that Greenland’s future should be decided by its own people.

Greenland PM backs Denmark, NATO and the EU

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen made his position clear during a news conference in Copenhagen on Tuesday.

Nielsen said that if Greenland had to choose “here and now” between the US and Denmark, it would stand with Denmark, NATO and the European Union.

Trump later dismissed Nielsen’s comments, saying he did not know who the Greenlandic leader was and warning that his stance could become “a big problem” for him.

Why Greenland matters strategically

Greenland’s strategic importance has grown as climate change melts Arctic ice, opening up shorter shipping routes to Asia and making untapped reserves of critical minerals more accessible.

Trump has claimed the island is vital to the US Golden Dome missile defence programme and has cited alleged threats from Russian and Chinese ships operating near Greenland.

However, both experts and local residents dispute those claims.

Greenlanders dismiss claims of Russian and Chinese threats

Local residents say they have seen no evidence of the threats Trump describes.

As per an AP report, heating engineer Lars Vintner said he regularly sails and hunts around Greenland and has never seen Russian or Chinese vessels. His friend Hans Norgaard described Trump’s statements about foreign ships as “fantasy”.

Denmark has already said the US can expand its existing military presence on the island, leading some Greenlanders to believe security concerns are merely a pretext.

“Security is just a cover,” say locals

According to an AP report, Vintner suggested Trump’s real interest lies in Greenland’s natural resources rather than defence. Norgaard has even filed a police complaint in Nuuk, accusing Trump of “aggressive” behaviour and threatening rhetoric towards Greenland and NATO.

Mikaelsen added that Greenlanders benefit from Denmark’s welfare system, including free healthcare and education, and fears those protections could be lost under US control.

Diplomatic pushback gathers pace

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt are expected to meet US senators from the Arctic Caucus following their talks in Washington.

Meanwhile, US senators Jeanne Shaheen and Lisa Murkowski have introduced bipartisan legislation to block funding for any attempt to annex Greenland, or any NATO member’s territory, without consent from allies or approval from the North Atlantic Council.

European allies rally behind Denmark and Greenland

Denmark’s European allies have also stepped in. Leaders issued a joint statement backing Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, stressing that Greenland belongs to its people alone.

France has announced plans to open a consulate in Greenland on February 6, a move aimed at strengthening diplomatic engagement in the region.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that attacking another NATO member would make no sense and called on Washington to end what he described as political “blackmail”.

Inputs from AP