KLIK SAJA — The United States’ renewed push for expansionism, marked by revived plans to annex Greenland, has sharply escalated political tensions within NATO and the European Union.
President Donald Trump’s ambition has not only strained relations with Denmark but has also placed the Western alliance in an increasingly awkward and precarious position.
The question now is: what steps can NATO and the EU take to prevent such a scenario from unfolding?
The controversy surrounding Greenland’s ownership has resurfaced after the Trump administration openly expressed its intention to seize control of the territory—an island known for having the world’s second-largest ice cover after Antarctica.
Most recently, on Saturday (January 10, 2026), Trump issued a statement widely interpreted as a threat toward Denmark and Greenland.
He claimed that discussions over annexation were underway and even hinted at the possibility of military intervention.
“We are going to do something about Greenland, either the easy way or the hard way,” Trump told reporters.
The remarks sparked an immediate backlash in Greenland. Five leaders of local political parties issued a joint statement asserting that “no country has the right to intervene in Greenland.”
Denmark’s government also responded firmly. On Monday (January 5, 2026), Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that the post–World War II security order—and NATO itself—would effectively collapse if the United States were to launch a military invasion of Greenland.
Trump’s threats have placed NATO and the European Union in an extremely difficult position. Formally, Greenland is not a NATO member.
However, because it remains under Danish sovereignty, the territory is indirectly part of both NATO and the EU.
A passive or hands-off response risks severely damaging the EU’s credibility, particularly given its longstanding commitment to defending sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the right of Greenland and Denmark to resolve their affairs peacefully.
Yet despite the seriousness of the situation, neither NATO nor the EU has taken concrete action to counter Washington’s threats.
This is striking, considering that several strategic options are clearly available.