A member of the Danish parliament has raised concerns about the potential consequences if the United States were to consider invading Greenland, warning of possible repercussions under the current America First agenda of the Donald Trump administration. Rasmus Jarlov expressed these worries in light of Trump’s repeated discussions about annexing Greenland, which is a Danish territory. Trump and his administration argue that Greenland, due to its proximity to the US, holds strategic importance for national security.
Although the US has the ability to station troops in Greenland and benefits from favorable resource extraction agreements under existing treaties, its military presence in the region has decreased since the end of the Cold War. Despite this, Trump has taken a strong stance against Denmark, a NATO ally that supported the US in conflicts such as Afghanistan post-9/11. Jarlov cautioned that any European nation with territories in the Americas, like the UK, could face similar threats from Trump if he follows through with his invasion rhetoric.
Jarlov emphasized the significance of the situation, stating that the potential attack on Greenland, a loyal partner to the US, should raise concerns for all nations, as it signifies a departure from previous American foreign policy practices. He highlighted the unpredictability of American aggression targets, suggesting that many countries could be at risk.
In a separate incident, after the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, President Trump touted a new era of American dominance in the Western Hemisphere, referencing a modern interpretation of the historical Monroe Doctrine. Jarlov stressed that an invasion of Greenland would lead to war and result in severe self-inflicted harm for any involved party.
While Jarlov acknowledged that an invasion might not be the most likely scenario, he believed the US might attempt to influence public opinion in Greenland through economic means. However, he asserted that such actions would be unacceptable and rejected any comparison to similar tactics used within US states.
According to a poll conducted in January 2025 by Verian, only six percent of Greenlanders supported leaving Denmark to join the US, with the majority expressing a desire to remain part of Denmark. The survey indicated that 85 percent opposed becoming part of the US, while nine percent remained undecided.