The Trump administration's assertive and unconventional pursuit of Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory, has ignited a fierce debate and drawn widespread condemnation from both Greenlanders and European allies. US officials, including President Donald Trump, explicitly discussed a potential offer to buy the island and even intimated a willingness to take it by force if necessary, a stance that was met with firm rejection from the island's inhabitants. Mia Chemnitz, a 32-year-old business owner in the Greenlandic capital Nuuk, unequivocally stated, "The people of Greenland do not want to become American. We are not for sale." This sentiment reflects a pervasive feeling of nervousness and opprobrium across the world's largest island.

This nervousness intensified significantly following the US's unprecedented military intervention to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from Caracas. Almost immediately after, the wife of a senior White House staffer indicated that Greenland could be next, causing the abstract threat to feel alarmingly real. Tupaarnaq Kopeck, 40, who moved to Canada, expressed her concern, contacting her sister in Greenland to offer refuge "if the unthinkable ever became reality." Aaja Chemnitz, one of two MPs representing Greenland in the Danish parliament, condemned the Trump administration's comments as a "clear threat," expressing her appalling shock at the US's disregard for a fellow NATO ally and its unwillingness to rule out annexation.

Greenland holds profound strategic significance for the United States, which has maintained a military presence there since World War Two, notably at the Pituffik base in the north-western tip. Its location between North America and the Arctic makes it crucial for early warning systems against missile attacks and for monitoring vessels. US Vice-President JD Vance underscored this, stating that Greenland is "critical" for the defense of the US and the world against potential Russian or Chinese missile attacks. Vance criticized Europe and Denmark for under-investing in Greenland's defenses and failing to engage with Trump's arguments, asserting that they had not done a proper job of securing the area, which serves as an "anchor for world security and missile defence."

Beyond its strategic military value, Greenland's natural resources have garnered increased interest. As the island's ice melts due to climate change, access to rich reserves of rare earth minerals, uranium, iron, and potentially significant oil and gas reserves becomes easier. This economic appeal further fuels the US's ambition, despite Greenland's status as the world's most sparsely populated territory, with most of its 56,000 inhabitants residing in Nuuk and the surrounding south-western coastline.

Denmark, a fellow NATO member, has consistently rejected any notion of selling Greenland, repeatedly stressing that the island is not for sale. This position has garnered strong support from key European allies, including France, the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain, who issued a joint statement. They affirmed that Greenland belongs to its people, and only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relations, emphasizing the importance of upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders. They warned that any military action would risk destabilizing the NATO alliance, stressing that Arctic security must be achieved collectively by allies.

The US's renewed threats to seize Greenland have also cast a shadow over transatlantic economic relations, altering the conditions for approving a crucial EU-US trade deal. Bern Lange (German/S&D), who chairs the European Parliament’s trade committee, indicated that MEPs would reassess the deal. Danish MEP Per Clausen circulated a letter, signed by dozens of MEPs across political groups, urging Parliament President Roberta Metsola to "freeze" the deal "as long as claims for Greenland and threats are made by the US administration," deeming it "grotesque" to reward such actions with trade concessions.

Amidst this diplomatic uproar, Lord Peter Mandelson, former British ambassador to Washington, offered a critical perspective on the European reaction. He accused European leaders, including Keir Starmer, of a "histrionic" response, arguing that without "hard power and hard cash," Europe would inevitably slide into unimportance in the "age of Trump." Mandelson controversially stated that Trump achieved "more in a day than orthodox diplomacy was able to achieve in the past decade" by capturing the Venezuelan president. He argued that Trump would not invade Greenland, but would rather apply pressure, forcing Europe to confront crystallized threats to Arctic security posed by China and Russia. Mandelson challenged the notion of a robust "rules-based system," asserting it ceased to have meaning before Trump's election and that Europe was guilty of a "lazy interpretation of ‘America First’ to mean ‘America Alone’," despite US interventions elsewhere. He urged European leaders to stop "piggybacking" and assume their full military and financial responsibilities.

Greenlanders themselves, while united against US acquisition, express complex views on their relationship with Denmark. Aleqatsiaq Peary, a 42-year-old Inuit hunter from Qaanaaq, appeared unfazed by the prospect of US ownership, stating it would merely be "switching from one master to another, from one occupier to another," as he views Greenland as a colony under Denmark, from which they are "already losing a lot." Peary also highlighted the urgent struggles faced by hunters due to melting sea ice, which jeopardizes their traditional livelihoods. Christian Keldsen of the Greenland Business Association noted the growing irritation among Greenlanders, emphasizing their welcoming nature but also their burgeoning fear. He stressed that Greenland is "open for business" with the US, citing new direct flights to New York as evidence that annexation is unnecessary. The rhetoric from the US administration has therefore not only created diplomatic tensions but also pushed Greenland into a difficult position, challenging its sovereignty and testing the fabric of international alliances, while Greenlanders adamantly strive for self-determination and the protection of their unique culture and environment.