World: International political and security tensions are escalating over Greenland, the vast island located at the far reaches of the Arctic Circle. Appearing from the air like a scene from a fantastical nature film, Greenland is a self-governing territory under Danish sovereignty and the largest island in the world. It lies between the Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic, is geographically part of the North American continent, yet is considered geopolitically European due to its political affiliation with Denmark.

Trump’s insistence on acquiring Greenland has emerged as an unusual and potentially destabilizing development in US–European relations and the transatlantic alliance that has formed a cornerstone of the Western order since World War II.

Over recent weeks, Trump has escalated his rhetoric regarding the necessity of US control over the island, heightening European concerns that his threatening language could translate into concrete action, including the possibility of a military operation to seize Greenland. Such a move would place the traditional allies of Europe and the United States on a direct collision course.

Greenland, whose name was historically coined by the Vikings as a form of promotional allure, is home to the Inuit people—historically referred to as Eskimos, meaning “the people” in their language. The island has been under Danish sovereignty while enjoying self-rule since a 2009 referendum, with defense and foreign policy remaining under Copenhagen’s authority.

The island has now taken center stage following Trump’s declaration of strategic interest in acquiring it, citing US national security considerations. He has alternated between expressing a desire to purchase Greenland, praising its strategic value, and openly threatening to use either force or pressure to achieve this objective.

Reflecting Washington’s determination, the White House on Tuesday released an image of Trump standing by his office window with a map of Greenland behind him, accompanied by the caption “We are monitoring the situation.” Analysts interpreted the move as a signal that both military and diplomatic options remain on the table. This coincided with field-level escalation, as Denmark moved to strengthen its defensive capabilities on the island in response to the threats.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded with categorical rejection, describing the idea as “absurd” and warning that any attempt at military seizure would signify the end of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). She underscored the difficulty of resisting “unacceptable pressure from a close ally,” noting that “the hardest part still lies ahead.”

Greenland’s prime minister reiterated that the island is not for sale and will not become the property of Washington. Meanwhile, German warnings were issued by the country’s defense minister, cautioning that Trump’s ambitions could create an unprecedented crisis within NATO.

The dispute has reopened painful historical and human rights files related to Greenland’s past. The island was home to Indigenous peoples long before the arrival of Norwegian explorer Erik the Red and the onset of European oversight. Human rights and media investigations, including reports published by France’s Le Monde, documented grave abuses by Danish authorities in the 1970s, including forced sterilization campaigns targeting approximately 4,500 Inuit girls and the removal of children from their families for adoption. Frederiksen later issued an official apology, describing that era as a “betrayal with devastating consequences.”

In a related development, Britain’s Daily Mail reported—citing informed sources and Western diplomats—that Trump ordered the US Joint Special Operations Command to prepare a plan for invading Greenland. The move was described within the US military establishment as unlawful and lacking political authorization.

Senior military leaders, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were reported to oppose the plan, arguing it would fail to secure congressional approval and could embroil the United States in an unnecessary confrontation with its allies, foremost among them Denmark, which holds sovereignty over the territory.

Historically, Washington offered in 1946 to purchase Greenland for $100 million, an offer Copenhagen rejected. However, Denmark later approved the establishment of the US Thule Air Base during the Cold War, an arrangement kept secret until it was revealed in 1991.

Translated by Almasirah English website