In Trump: Is Greenland Next?, The Guardian’s Europe correspondent Jon Henley discusses how President Trump’s renewed focus on acquiring Greenland has shifted from being dismissed as political bluster to a serious geopolitical concern in Europe, especially against the backdrop of recent U.S. actions in Venezuela. Henley explains that while Trump frames Greenland’s strategic importance in terms of national security and countering Russian and Chinese influence, European leaders—including Denmark, of which Greenland is a self‑governing territory—are now treating the possibility with increased gravity and pushback.
European leaders have emphasized that any decision regarding Greenland’s future belongs solely to Denmark and Greenland, warning that unilateral U.S. action would undermine international law and alliance norms. Henley reflects that this debate exposes potential strains within NATO, as member states must reconcile U.S. strategic ambitions with collective security obligations. The episode highlights how Arctic sovereignty, transatlantic trust, and alliance cohesion are now intertwined, illustrating the broader diplomatic and security implications of Trump’s rhetoric.
Listen to the full episode on The Guardian.