On January 12, 2026, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the standoff over Greenland as a “decisive moment,” following renewed threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to acquire the territory “one way or the other.” The escalation has triggered a coordinated response from European allies who are now considering the deployment of a multinational NATO force to the Arctic island to address Washington’s stated security concerns.
Denmark warns of ‘decisive moment’ as Trump renews threat of force over Greenland
➡️ https://t.co/EakIw6HflR pic.twitter.com/WzThVTYiO7— FRANCE 24 (@FRANCE24) January 11, 2026
The crisis intensified over the weekend when President Trump, speaking from Air Force One, claimed that the U.S. must “acquire” Greenland to prevent a takeover by Russia or China, asserting that a mere military presence (like the existing Pituffik Space Base) is insufficient without “ownership” or “title.”
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To “call Trump’s bluff” regarding security fears, European leaders are drafting plans for a mission modeled after last year’s “Baltic Sentry” operation. This would involve rotating multinational units and enhanced surveillance to pre-empt any unilateral U.S. action. German Foreign Minister Wadephul is scheduled to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington this week to present these alternatives and emphasize that any change in Greenland’s status requires the consent of its people.
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