Greenland alert: EU official warns of NATO fallout from US threats

A senior European Union official has sounded a stark warning that any attempt by the United States to seize control of Greenland — the autonomous Danish territory in the Arctic — would effectively mark the end of the NATO alliance.

Lithuania’s European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, said that if Washington were to use military force to take control of Greenland, it would signify the collapse of transatlantic relations and undermine the very foundation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, LRT reports.

“I agree with the Danish prime minister: if such a thing were to happen — although I do not believe it will — if the US administration decided to use force to take control of Greenland, that would clearly mean the end of transatlantic relations and NATO,” Kubilius said.

Kubilius’ comments echoed warnings from Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, who has repeatedly asserted that a unilateral US move against a NATO ally “would mean the end of everything,” including the alliance itself.

The remarks came in the wake of renewed interest from US President Donald Trump in acquiring Greenland, a vast Arctic territory with significant strategic value. Trump has reiterated his long-standing desire to bring the island under American control, citing national security concerns and the region’s importance amid geopolitical competition in the Arctic.

While some statements from the White House have suggested that military options “are always an option” when considering how to pursue control over Greenland, senior US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have downplayed the likelihood of a forced invasion and emphasized diplomatic avenues such as a purchase.

Strategic considerations have intensified following a recent US military operation in Venezuela, which heightened speculation abroad about Washington’s willingness to use force to achieve broader geopolitical goals. Denmark and other European leaders have strongly rebuffed talk of annexation, emphasizing the island’s sovereignty and warning that any effort to seize it would undermine decades of post–World War II security cooperation.

Kubilius noted that if Washington’s intent is to strengthen security in Greenland or the broader Arctic region, it could do so by expanding its existing military presence under current agreements rather than resorting to threats or coercion. “Those possibilities already exist. There is absolutely no need to threaten or intimidate with talk of taking over Greenland or its control,” he said. 

By Vafa Guliyeva