A trio of European analysts say they are not convinced the US will opt for military action to secure Greenland, despite renewed rhetoric from senior Trump administration officials. The analysts believe the US is pursuing negotiation and potential purchase, rather than military force.
US President Donald Trump called for immediate negotiations to acquire Greenland from Denmark, citing national security and strategic interests. Trump emphasized the importance of protecting the island and developing its resources, while also questioning the strength of NATO's Article 5 collective defense clause.
North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has deployed aircraft to Pituffik Space Base in Greenland for long-planned activities. The deployment comes as Washington and European allies compete for influence over the island's security role in the Arctic.
Denmark has announced plans to increase its military presence in Greenland, in partnership with NATO allies. This move comes amid growing security tensions in the Arctic and follows days of rhetoric from the Trump administration focused on acquiring the island.
European countries have begun airlifting reconnaissance teams into Greenland under Danish leadership, with the first contingents arriving in Nuuk on January 14, 2026. The mission aims to assess conditions for a possible wider allied deployment and map out infrastructure and logistics for sustained operations in Greenland's polar environment.
Breaking Defense reports that the US is considering a Compacts of Free Association (COFA) agreement with Greenland as an alternative to annexation. The proposal would provide a sovereign wealth fund of $30 billion, modeled after Alaska's Permanent Fund, to support infrastructure, education, energy, and defense in Greenland.