Europe’s leadership, particularly western and north-central Europeans, made two arguments when faced with President Donald Trump’s move to annex Greenland: That, whatever NATO’s Mark Rutte says, the United States cannot coerce Denmark to give up control of Greenland, and that NATO must remain united at all costs. If the United States were not a member of NATO – or more importantly, if it were not the main NATO contributor – these two arguments would not be mutually exclusive. But as America is the main contributor, the dual arguments put European leaders in a bind.
Being in NATO means being defended by America (no one is desperate to be defended by Spain). This is why Ukraine wishes to be in NATO so badly and is why the Baltics joined NATO before they joined the European Union. What President Trump’s threat has forced them to consider, therefore, is determine what they value more: Being defended by America, or keeping Greenland under Danish control.
On the surface, it seems like Europe has managed to answer both of these questions without issue. A statement put out by the nations who were in danger of being tariffed by Trump over Greenland was supported by various other European Union member states. But the “support” – mostly just confined to retweets – was telling.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member