European allies, led by France and Germany, are coordinating a joint response to President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring Greenland. The move comes as Europe seeks to address U.S. ambitions in the Arctic that have strained relations within the NATO alliance.
A U.S. military seizure of Greenland from Denmark, a longtime ally, would create a significant rift between Washington and European leaders. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed the issue would be discussed today with his German and Polish counterparts.
"We want to take action, but we want to do so together with our European partners," Barrot told France Inter radio.
A German government source echoed this, stating Berlin is working closely with Denmark on potential next steps. While a senior European official noted that Denmark must lead the coordination, they added that Copenhagen has not yet specified the exact support it requires from its neighbors.
The Arctic island, home to 57,000 people, is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. While not an independent member of NATO, it is protected under Denmark’s membership. Its location is vital for U.S. ballistic missile defense, and its vast mineral wealth is seen by Washington as a way to reduce reliance on China.
Leaders from Europe and Canada have rallied behind Greenland this week, asserting the territory belongs to its people. Johannes Koskinen, chair of Finland's Foreign Affairs Committee, called for the matter to be addressed at Thursday’s North Atlantic Council meeting.
"NATO allies should address whether the United States should be brought into line," Koskinen said, suggesting Washington cannot disregard international agreements for "power ambitions."
President Trump has recently revived his 2019 proposal to gain control of Greenland, citing its military importance and claiming Denmark has failed to protect it. While the White House indicated on Tuesday that military options were being discussed, Minister Barrot suggested U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had downplayed the likelihood of a military operation in a recent phone call.
The concerns follow a recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela, which fueled fears of similar unilateral actions elsewhere. However, a senior U.S. official stated that advisers are discussing multiple avenues for acquisition, including a purchase—an idea Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly rejected.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt have requested an urgent meeting with Secretary Rubio to "add nuance" to the discussion.
"The shouting match must be replaced by a more sensible dialogue," Rasmussen posted on social media.
Rasmussen also disputed President Trump’s claims regarding a heavy Russian and Chinese naval presence near the island. "The image being painted of Russian and Chinese ships inside the Nuuk fjord... is not correct," he said. Data from MarineTraffic and LSEG currently show no such vessels near Greenland.
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