NATO plans to make offer to Trump on Greenland to reduce tensions - media

NATO plans to offer US President Donald Trump a significant expansion of the alliance's military presence in the Arctic. NATO representatives hope that this will defuse the discussion on Greenland.

This is reported by Handelsblatt.

Thus, NATO told DPA that US security interests could also be satisfied with a significantly larger NATO presence in the region. Especially since the Americans, of course, could also participate in increasing the presence.

Greenland is strategically interesting due to its rich raw materials and as a base for military control over the Arctic. In addition, shipping routes are becoming more accessible with the intensification of climate change, at least in the summer.

According to information from Alliance circles, this initiative is being discussed by Trump in informal talks. The basis for increasing the presence may be new defense plans adopted in 2023. These documents, which are classified, envisage strengthening deterrence and defense capabilities in the far north as well.

The US already operates the Pituffik space base in Greenland under agreements with Denmark. Among other things, it supports missile warning systems as well as missile defense and space surveillance missions. Danish forces are also present - ​​mainly through the Arctic Command in Nuuk.

It is noted that the debate over Greenland is a highly contentious one for NATO. On the one hand, the Alliance must fear for its credibility if a leading member suddenly threatens to annex another state’s territory by force - especially in light of russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine and China’s claims to Taiwan. On the other hand, it would be a disaster for NATO if the US were to leave the alliance in a dispute over such an issue, as NATO’s deterrence is based primarily on its nuclear arsenal and the strength of its regular armed forces.

Trump previously said that he did not rule out using the army or economic coercion to take the island from Denmark.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on January 10, Greenland Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede said that the island's population does not want to be with either the United States or Denmark.

At the same time, a few days later Egede said that Greenland seeks to strengthen ties with the United States in the defense and mining sectors.

Recall that the day before, Danish MEP Anders Wisten cursed Trump for his desire to establish control over Greenland.