The possibility that Donald Trump will try to take over is no longer seen in Europe as a mere provocation or threat. In fact, in Brussels and in several European capitals, concern is growing about a scenario that, until recently, seemed unthinkable: that the United States will exert direct pressure—economically, politically or even militarily—to take control of the Arctic island, an autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty.
According to the newspaper, ” which has been able to speak with several diplomatic and NATO sources, European governments are working against time to define a response. The problem is that there is no consensus or certainty. “No one really knows what to do because the Americans can do whatever they want. But we need answers to these questions immediately. They can’t wait three, five or seven years,” says a former Danish deputy to the newspaper ‘Politico’.
The alarm was raised after the latest statements from the Trump Administration, which considers Greenland the thawing of new maritime routes and the growing presence of Russia and China in the region. And from Washington they defend that Denmark does not sufficiently protect the island.
Europe seeks a way out… or several
Given this scenario, Some European diplomats have explained some of the ways available to stop Trump. The first involves seeking a political commitment that allows the United States to reinforce its military or security presence in Greenland without a formal change of sovereignty. At this point, NATO could act as a mediator between Washington, Copenhagen and the Greenlandic government.
Another option is massively increase European investment in Greenland. Brussels and Denmark want to counter the American promise of easy money by promoting the social, health and educational development of the territory, in addition to helping to exploit mineral resources under European control. The EU is considering doubling its funding from 2028, with hundreds of millions of additional euros.
A third way would be economic retaliation. The European Union has the so-called Anti-Coercion Instrument, designed to respond to commercial pressures from great powers. Some leaders believe that reactivating this “trade bazooka” could deter Trump, although there is skepticism about its real effectiveness in the face of a White House willing to strain the transatlantic relationship to the maximum.
The darkest scene
The worst scenario is the military one. If the United States decided to intervene by force, European options would be very limited. As experts tell ‘Politico’, Denmark could be legally obliged to respond, and other European countries could deploy troops in Greenland at the request of Copenhagen, not so much to win a conflict, but to raise the political and human cost of US action.
Still, the risk is enormous. Analysts warn that any direct clash with the United States would open completely unknown territory for Europe, with consequences within NATO.
Meanwhile, the feeling in Brussels is one of bewilderment. As European sources recognize, the debate is no longer theoretical. The question is how far Trump is willing to go… and if Europe really has the tools to stop it.
