As the Trump administration marks its first year back in office, its aggressive pursuit of Greenland has intensified fractures within NATO and reshaped Arctic geopolitics. The U.S. president’s public discussions about acquiring the island – including suggestions of military intervention – have drawn sharp rebukes from Denmark and European allies, raising questions about the future of transatlantic cooperation.
The Greenland Controversy
Since January 2026, Washington has framed control of Greenland as a national security priority, leveraging tariffs against European critics and bypassing diplomatic norms. Analysts warn this unprecedented challenge to a NATO ally’s sovereignty risks destabilizing decades-old governance frameworks like the Arctic Council while eroding trust in international law.
Three Systemic Impacts
First, Arctic cooperation faces collapse as U.S. actions prioritize power politics over multilateral consensus. Second, the invocation of “national security” to justify territorial claims sets a dangerous precedent for small states. Third, NATO’s foundational trust is eroding, with European members accelerating plans for strategic autonomy despite material constraints.
Broader Unilateral Pattern
The Greenland dispute follows a year of U.S. unilateralism, from bypassing allies in Ukraine-Russia negotiations to imposing sweeping tariffs. While European capitals criticize these moves, most remain tethered to Washington due to security dependencies on Russia’s doorstep and limited military-industrial capacity for rapid autonomy.
An Uncertain Future
Though transatlantic ties persist, the Greenland episode reveals deepening ideological and strategic divides. As right-leaning European governments align with Trump’s ‘America First’ approach, the alliance’s long-term cohesion hangs in balance – with Arctic governance and global order caught in the crossfire.
