Trump and Greenland: A Political Escalation Reshuffles the Arctic Cards
US President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on Europe in a new move reflecting a clear escalation in his political rhetoric regarding Greenland, following the posting of a controversial image on the official White House Instagram page. The digitally altered image shows Trump looking out of an Oval Office window at a map of Greenland, accompanied by the caption: “Monitoring the situation.”
The original image showed the US president overseeing the construction of a future White House ballroom. However, replacing the construction site with a map of Greenland was not a mere detail, but rather a clear political message that came just hours after Trump asserted that the United States would control the Arctic territory “one way or another.”
From Diplomatic Ambition to the Language of Coercion
This escalation comes amidst Trump’s renewed insistence on including Greenland within the US sphere of influence, as he emphasized that reaching an agreement with the island is an “easier” option than resorting to military force. However, this proposal was not without a veiled threat, as he warned that Russia or China might move to fill the vacuum if the United States did not intervene.
In remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump made no secret of his willingness to proceed with this course of action, even if it strained relations with NATO. He stated, “If it affects NATO, it will affect them. But they need us far more than we need them.”
NATO at the Mercy of American Calculations
Trump’s remarks have revived European doubts about Washington’s commitment to its traditional alliances, especially given his explicit linking of Greenland’s security to American strategic interests. The president asserted that the island does not want to see Russia or China exert influence over it, emphasizing that strengthening relations with the United States, particularly in the defense sector, would be beneficial for Greenland.
In justifying his position, Trump claimed that Greenland's security "fundamentally depends" on the presence of two Russian and two Chinese destroyers and submarines, warning of the widespread deployment of Russian and Chinese naval vessels in various parts of the world, before adding: "We will not allow that to happen."
However, these claims were not supported by any concrete evidence, which Denmark quickly refuted, asserting that there were no indications of Russian or Chinese military activity that directly threatens Greenland.
International Reactions and Chinese Reservations
In response to Trump's rhetoric, China emphasized its rejection of using other countries or regions as a pretext to bolster American influence. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning stated that the Arctic is a region of strategic importance to the entire international community, noting that Beijing's activities in the region fall within the framework of promoting stability and sustainable development.
The Chinese official also stressed the need to respect the rights and freedoms of all countries to operate legally within the Arctic, in a clear message rejecting the logic of unilateral hegemony promoted by Washington.
“It’s inevitable.”
In separate remarks, Trump reiterated that US control of Greenland is a given, arguing that the only alternative is for the island to fall under the influence of Russia or China. He stated decisively, “If we don’t take Greenland, Russia or China will… I’m not going to let that happen.”
This rhetoric reveals a geopolitical vision based on a zero-sum logic, where the options are reduced to control or loss. This opens the door to a new phase of tension in the Arctic region and presents Europe and NATO with complex dilemmas between strategic partnership and escalating US pressure.
