Media: Annexation of Greenland by Trump would mark end of NATO

US President-elect Donald Trump has tarnished America's reputation by suggesting the acquisition of Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory covered in ice and three times the size of Texas.

It's unclear whether Trump is serious about this, but the best way to kill a bad idea is to address it early in the brainstorming stage, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Greenland's Prime Minister, Mute Egede, firmly rejected even the idea of negotiations, stating, "We are not for sale and will never be for sale," echoing the sentiments of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen when Trump first proposed buying the territory in 2019.

Trump seems so determined to acquire Greenland that, as absurd as it may sound, he might escalate tensions, potentially sparking an economic conflict or worse, in pursuit of it. A Trump-led attempt to seize Greenland against Denmark's wishes, a NATO member, would spell the end of the alliance, as no coalition can endure when its leading power violates the territorial integrity of another member.

Since "might makes right" works both ways, China could use such a move to justify an invasion of Taiwan, arguing that the US claims Greenland just as it might claim the Cathedral of Notre Dame, while Taiwan was once part of the Chinese Empire. In modern history, the only country to violate Denmark’s sovereignty was Nazi Germany, a regime that America should never want to be associated with.

When Trump initially suggested purchasing Greenland, some residents of the territory saw it as a joke, while others viewed it as a serious threat to their sovereignty. If Trump adopts a "might makes right" approach to foreign policy and pressures Denmark into giving up sovereign land, Americans should be outraged too. The American cemeteries in Europe exist because we fought to oppose aggressive territorial expansion during World War II.

On December 22, 2024, Trump made fresh comments regarding Greenland, stating on Truth Social, "The United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity". He had made similar remarks in 2019 during his first presidential term.

By Naila Huseynova