Greenland and Europe unite against Trump's threats and attempts to buy the island
Naga Nathanielsen, Greenland's Minister of Mineral Resources, expressed her deep appreciation for the firm stance taken by several European countries in the face of recent threats from US President Donald Trump. In a message posted on LinkedIn on Saturday, the minister praised the strong reactions from European capitals threatened with punitive tariffs by Trump for opposing his efforts to acquire the Arctic island.
Nathanielsen said: "I have been overwhelmed by the initial reactions from the targeted countries. I am grateful and optimistic that diplomacy and alliances will prevail," noting that international solidarity is a key pillar in protecting territorial sovereignty.
Dimensions of the diplomatic crisis and customs threats
Tensions escalated after the US president threatened new tariffs on a group of European countries, including France, Sweden, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Finland, Slovenia, and the UK. This direct threat came after these countries sent troops to Greenland on a reconnaissance mission as part of joint exercises organized by Denmark in cooperation with NATO.
These threats were met with a firm rejection from European leaders; French President Emmanuel Macron and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre described Trump's remarks as "unacceptable," while the European Union warned against slipping into a "dangerous spiral" that could damage transatlantic relations.
The strategic importance of Greenland: Why is Trump so insistent?
To understand the US president's insistence on purchasing Greenland, one must consider the island's immense geopolitical importance. Greenland's value lies not only in its vast size but also in its rare and untapped mineral wealth, which is vital to modern technological and military industries. Furthermore, with the melting of Arctic ice, the island is emerging as a gateway to new trade routes and a strategic vantage point for monitoring Russian and Chinese military activity in the region.
Trump had written on his Truth Social platform, threatening that the tariffs would remain in place "until an agreement is reached to purchase Greenland in its entirety," claiming that European countries were playing "a very dangerous game." He justified his desire to acquire the island as a necessity to counter Russian and Chinese expansion in the Arctic.
Historical background and popular rejection
It is worth noting that the United States' desire to purchase Greenland is not new; President Harry Truman offered to buy the island from Denmark in 1946 for $100 million in gold, but the offer was rejected. Trump revived this idea during his first term in 2019, sparking a diplomatic crisis at the time, with the Danish Prime Minister describing it as "a ridiculous idea.".
At the popular level, opinion polls show widespread rejection of this idea among Greenlanders. According to a poll published in January 2025, 85% of the population opposes joining the United States, while only 6% support it. Minister Nathanielsen confirmed that she witnessed this rejection firsthand during a large demonstration in the capital, Nuuk, where thousands took to the streets to denounce Trump's desire to buy their homeland, reflecting the residents' strong attachment to their identity and sovereignty.
Observers and international relations experts believe that the recent European military presence on the island represents a clear "strategic signal" to Washington, confirming that Greenland is an integral part of the European and Atlantic security system, and not a property up for sale.
