Tensions in Greenland have dramatically escalated following Donald Trump's declared interest in acquiring the country, transforming the once tranquil atmosphere of places like the Hans Egede hotel's cocktail bar into scenes of conflict. Jorgen Boassen, a local bricklaying company boss and fervent advocate for the 'Make Greenland American' cause, experienced a violent attack, being sucker-punched in Nuuk. A former boxer, Boassen, 51, has been physically attacked multiple times since becoming an unofficial ambassador for Trump's Arctic envoys. His pro-Trump stance, initially met with amusement or mild contempt, has now led to serious divisions, with Boassen fearing the world's largest island could be on the brink of 'civil war'. He has been forced to split from his fiancée due to her family's disdain for his campaign, and claims his business has been 'blacklisted' by Danish-controlled entities, forcing him into exile in Denmark.

Boassen alleges that Danes, who control 95% of businesses, are persecuting those with 'independent dreams of working with America', fostering a 'climate of fear' where pro-American voices dare not speak out. He warns of potential armed conflict given that 'almost every home has a gun for hunting'. While pro-independence Greenlander MP Kuno Fencker shares concerns about fracturing divisions, with 'families falling out', he believes the majority yearn for freedom from centuries of 'heavy-handed colonisation'. Opinion polls indicate 84% favour independence, but Fencker acknowledges this doesn't equate to a desire for American governance, particularly under Trump. He envisions a free association agreement with the U.S. for economic and security benefits, especially regarding rare earth minerals and military bases to deter Chinese and Russian incursions, tasks he claims are beyond Denmark's limited military capabilities.

Greenlanders hold complex views on their future. Hedvig Frederiksen, a 65-year-old retired Inuit woman, embodies these mixed feelings. She fears an imminent U.S. invasion, tracking flights from the Pituffik Space Base, especially after Trump's actions in Venezuela. Her apprehension is rooted in a history of Danish mistreatment, including being fitted with contraceptive coils without parental consent as part of a government plan to limit the Inuit population in 1971. Yet, she also admires the United States, recalling the kindness of Americans who served as protectors during World War II, contrasting it with Danish repression. Hedvig believes a U.S.-backed economy would be more egalitarian and offers better security against Russia or China. However, her daughter, Aviaja Fontain, and many other Greenlanders reject Trump due to his 'brash, boastful persona' and 'drill-baby-drill' mantra, fearing environmental destruction and the introduction of societal issues like mass shootings. Aviaja seeks absolute independence for Greenland, wary of American cultural influence.

Internationally, Trump's ambitions have sparked widespread alarm. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that a U.S. military attack on a NATO ally would lead to the collapse of the alliance. She emphasized that Greenland's future is solely for Denmark and its people to decide. European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and other heads of state, issued a joint statement vowing to defend Greenland's 'territorial integrity' and the 'inviolability of borders'. Furthermore, Denmark has confirmed a 1952 military rule remains in force, requiring soldiers to 'immediately take up the fight' against invading forces without awaiting orders.

These actions are part of a broader, audacious foreign policy shift under Trump. His administration, through a National Security Strategy, redefined US foreign policy to assert the Western Hemisphere as America's exclusive domain, free from Chinese and Russian influence. This 'Donroe Doctrine' or 'Trump Corollary' also criticizes post-WWII allies as 'unreliable spendthrifts' for not meeting defense spending targets. In a five-day power grab, Trump ordered the seizure of two oil tankers—the Russian-flagged Bella 1 (also known as Marinera) off Scotland and the Sophia in the Caribbean—following the dramatic capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. These actions, coupled with threats against Greenland, signal a mercantilist approach where the Atlantic and Caribbean are treated as American seas, and adversaries cannot dominate global supply chains, especially for energy and mineral wealth crucial to the AI revolution.

U.S. officials have offered varying stances: White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller flatly declared Greenland 'should be part of the United States', insisting no country would dare fight Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, dismissed a 'Venezuela-style operation' and planned talks for a potential purchase. House Speaker Mike Johnson, while acknowledging Greenland's strategic importance, stated America is 'not at war with Greenland' and that military action is not being considered, despite White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt affirming that 'utilizing the U.S. military is always an option'. US Vice President JD Vance's earlier visit to Pituffik Space Base was controversial, leading to the removal of its commander. The escalating tensions demonstrate Greenland's precarious position amidst colonial legacies, aspirations for self-determination, and the geopolitical power struggles of major global players.