Britain is engaging in discussions with NATO allies about strengthening security in the Arctic region to counter emerging threats from Russia and China, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced Sunday.
The talks come amid escalating tensions over Greenland following President Donald Trump’s repeated demands to acquire the Danish territory. On Friday, Greenland’s political leaders unanimously rejected Trump’s overtures, declaring “We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders.”
The White House has indicated it is considering a range of options, including military force, to acquire the island.
Why It Matters
These security discussions underscore growing geopolitical competition in the Arctic Circle, where melting ice has opened new shipping routes and access to natural resources. Greenland’s strategic importance stems from its location and the presence of a U.S. military base on the island.
The situation presents an unprecedented challenge for NATO, as any U.S. action against Denmark—a fellow alliance member—could potentially fracture the 75-year-old defense pact. With Greenland’s population of approximately 57,000 defended by Denmark’s relatively small military, the power imbalance raises critical questions about sovereignty, self-determination, and alliance obligations. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that an American takeover would mark the end of NATO.
What To Know
Britain’s Transport secretary characterized the security talks as “business as usual” rather than a direct response to Trump’s recent threats. However, she acknowledged that the U.K. agrees with Trump’s assessment that Russia and China are becoming increasingly competitive in the Arctic Circle. Trump stated Friday that if the U.S. doesn’t acquire Greenland “the easy way,” then Russia or China will take it over. “If we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way,” Trump said, without clarifying what that entailed.
Greenland’s political leadership issued a forceful statement signed by Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Pele Broberg, Múte B. Egede, Aleqa Hammond, and Aqqalu C. Jerimiassen. The leaders emphasized that Greenland’s future must be decided by Greenlanders themselves based on international law, without pressure or interference from other countries. They demanded an end to what they described as American “contempt” for their country.
Officials from Denmark, Greenland and the United States met Thursday in Washington and are scheduled to meet again next week to discuss the renewed White House push for control of the island. Britain’s former U.S. ambassador Peter Mandelson, who was sacked last year due to his friendship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, expressed skepticism that Trump would use force. “He’s not a fool,” Mandelson said, while acknowledging the need to secure the Arctic against Russian and Chinese influence.
Liberal Democrat Party leader Ed Davey proposed that Britain deploy troops to Greenland under joint command with Denmark. “If Trump is serious about security, he’d agree to participate and drop his outrageous threats,” Davey said. It remains unclear how NATO members would respond if the U.S. attempted to forcibly take control of the island or whether they would come to Denmark’s aid.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump said on Friday: “We’re not going to have Russia or China occupy Greenland. That’s what they’re going to do if we don’t. So, we’re going to be doing something with Greenland, either the nice way or the more difficult way.”
Greenland’s political leader in a joint statement: “As Greenlandic party leaders, we would like to emphasize once again our wish that the United States’ contempt for our country ends.”
It added: “We must decide the future of our country ourselves, without pressure for quick decision, delay or interference from other countries….We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danish, we want to be Greenlanders.”
Former UK Ambassador Peter Mandelson: “We are all going to have to wake up to the reality that the Arctic needs securing against China and Russia. And if you ask me who is going to lead in that effort to secure, we all know, don’t we, that it’s going to be the United States.”
Louisiana Republican Governor Jeff Landry said on Fox News in December: “Europe is just ignoring Greenland. This is an opportunity for Greenland to be invited to the economic table with the United States — the strongest, most advanced economy in the world —and we care about them.”
Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, posted on X last month: “Greenland’s sovereignty is not up for debate. Denmark is a critical NATO ally that has stood side by side with the United States.”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told CNN last week: “It has been the formal position of the U.S. government since the beginning of this administration—frankly, going back into the previous Trump administration—that Greenland should be part of the United States. The president has been very clear about that. That is the formal position of the U.S. government.”
Michael Williams of Syracuse University previously told Newsweek: “Denmark cannot legally sell Greenland to the United States. The Greenlanders would need a vote on what they wanted to do, and they have expressed no desire to join the US in any form of state or territory. In this case the U.S. would need to use military action to take over Greenland. This would most likely destroy the NATO alliance and would likely face fierce international condemnation.”
What Happens Next
NATO allies will continue security consultations regarding Arctic defense strategy while navigating the unprecedented challenge of addressing Trump’s demands for Greenland.
Officials from the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland will reconvene next week for further discussions.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
