Donald Trump's Greenland Proposal: A Threat to NATO and a Gift to Vladimir Putin

By Ben Emos & Don Terry | Wednesday, January 15, 2025 | 2 min read

Donald Trump’s intentions regarding the world’s largest island remain uncertain, but he has not ruled out the possibility of resorting to military threats against a NATO member. Such a move could invoke Article 5 of the NATO charter, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all. This prospect poses a significant diplomatic challenge for the alliance, potentially destabilizing its cohesion and advancing Vladimir Putin’s goal of undermining NATO’s unity.

During a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump suggested he could not dismiss the idea of using military or economic pressure to acquire Greenland—or even the Panama Canal. Adding fuel to speculation, his son, Donald Trump Jr., visited Greenland, raising questions about their intentions.

The U.S. already maintains the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, a territory abundant in natural resources and strategically located for trade. Its significance grows as global powers, including Russia, push to expand their influence in the Arctic Circle.

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For Vladimir Putin, any cracks in NATO’s unity represent a valuable strategic opening. A U.S. attempt to forcibly acquire Greenland would not only test the alliance’s solidarity but could also encourage Russia to pursue its own territorial ambitions, particularly in the Arctic. Weakening NATO’s collective defense framework would make it easier for Moscow to expand its geopolitical influence with fewer barriers.

This perspective was echoed by Andrey Gurulyov, a member of Russia’s Parliament (Duma) and a former military commander, during an appearance on the state-run Russia-1 television channel. Speaking alongside host Vladimir Solovyov, Gurulyov suggested that Russia should consider striking a deal with incoming U.S. President Donald Trump if his efforts to acquire Greenland for the United States prove successful.

Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, is also an integral part of NATO. This relationship was further solidified in 2023 when Greenland appointed its first envoy to the alliance.

Victoria Herrmann, a senior fellow at the Arctic Institute, emphasized in an interview with The Washington Post that any U.S. military action against Greenland would constitute "an attack against a member of NATO" under Article 5. Such a move could escalate tensions, destabilize the alliance, and inadvertently hand Russia a strategic advantage.

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