World leaders are locked in a diplomatic row after U.S. President Donald Trump refused to rule out using force to take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, sparking deep concern among European governments and destabilising transatlantic relations. Trump reaffirmed that there is “no going back” on his bid for Greenland and declined to reassure NATO partners about the alliance’s security guarantees during recent press interactions, raising alarm about the future of collective defense commitments.
European capitals reacted strongly, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen defending her nation’s sovereignty and deploying additional troops to Greenland amid the crisis, while British and EU leaders condemned U.S. pressure tactics. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Trump’s tariff threats and territorial ambitions “completely wrong,” stressing that such moves could trigger a damaging trade war and erode alliance trust.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump faced rebukes from several NATO members who emphasized that territorial decisions rest with Denmark and Greenland’s people alone. Meanwhile, markets saw volatility as investors weighed geopolitical risks, and Russia publicly criticized the U.S. stance as a sign of NATO’s weakening unity.
This escalating dispute underscores profound divisions within Western alliances and raises questions about NATO’s cohesion amid competing security priorities, news as reported.
