Greenland's Minister of Mineral Resources, Naga Nathanielsen, expressed her deep appreciation and optimism regarding the firm stance taken by several European countries in the face of recent economic threats from US President Donald Trump. This praise came after Trump threatened to impose punitive tariffs on Washington's European allies in response to their opposition to his ongoing efforts to acquire the Arctic island.
In a message posted on LinkedIn, Minister Nathanielsen said: "I have been overwhelmed by the strong initial reactions from the countries targeted. I am grateful and optimistic that diplomacy and strong alliances will ultimately prevail." This statement comes at a time of heightened tension in transatlantic relations due to US ambitions regarding the self-governing Danish island.
Context of the crisis and military movements
The current crisis erupted after military units from France, Sweden, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Finland, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom participated in a military reconnaissance mission inside Greenland. This mission was part of routine exercises organized by Denmark in cooperation with NATO. However, the US president considered this European military presence "a very dangerous game" and "an unacceptable gamble," interpreting it as a move to obstruct his plans to purchase the island.
Through his platform "Truth Social," Trump threatened to impose new tariffs that would remain in place "until an agreement is reached to purchase Greenland in its entirety," asserting his intention to seize it "one way or another" to counter what he described as Russian and Chinese advances in the Arctic region.
Strategic importance and geopolitical conflict
Washington's interest in Greenland is not new; the island enjoys a vital strategic location between the Arctic and the Atlantic Ocean, making it a crucial military and security gateway for North America. Historically, the United States maintains Thule Air Base in the north of the island, a key component of the US missile early warning system.
Moreover, Greenland is rich in enormous natural resources, including rare earth minerals that are essential for modern technological and military industries, which explains the urgent American desire to control it in order to block international competitors, specifically China and Russia, in the race for Arctic resources.
European and local rejection
Trump’s threats were met with widespread European rejection, with prominent leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, describing the threats as “unacceptable,” while the European Union warned against slipping into a “dangerous spiral” of trade wars.
Domestically, public opinion in Greenland appears decisive. Nathanielsen noted her participation in a large demonstration in the capital, Nuuk, which included thousands of people opposed to the American proposal. The figures support this view: a poll published in January 2025 showed that 85% of Greenlanders rejected the idea of joining the United States, with only 6% in favor.
International relations experts believe that the deployment of European forces on the island goes beyond routine training, representing a clear "strategic signal" to Washington that Greenland is an integral part of the European security and political system, and that its sovereignty is not up for sale.
