'U.S. takeover would end NATO': EU extends security offer to Greenland

The European Union (EU) could help provide security for Greenland if Denmark requests it, European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius said on Monday, warning that any U.S. military takeover of the Arctic territory would cause the end of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Speaking to media on the sidelines of a security conference in Sweden's Salen, Kubilius said he shared Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's view that a forced takeover would deal a fatal blow to NATO and severely damage transatlantic ties. He added that such a move would also trigger a strong negative reaction among Europeans.

Kubilius said he did not believe a U.S. invasion was imminent, but noted that Article 42.7 of the EU treaty obliges member states to provide mutual assistance if a member country is subjected to armed aggression. He said the bloc could step up support for Greenland at Denmark's request, including by deploying troops and expanding military infrastructure such as naval presence and counter-drone capabilities.

Denmark and the United States, both NATO members, are scheduled to meet this week to discuss the Greenland issue. Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly said the territory is not for sale, while U.S. President Donald Trump has insisted Washington must "own" Greenland without ruling out the use of force.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Europeans within NATO were discussing ways to strengthen the alliance, but stressed that such work should not be based on any presumption that NATO would stop functioning.

Leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Britain and Denmark issued a joint statement last week, stressing that decisions concerning Greenland rest "with Denmark and Greenland, and them only."

The statement underscored that Arctic security remains a central concern for Europe and for the transatlantic alliance as a whole, noting that NATO has designated the region a priority and that European allies are increasing their presence there.

Also at the security policy conference in the western resort town of Salen, Kristersson on Sunday criticized recent U.S. actions in Venezuela and Trump's "threatening rhetoric" toward Denmark and Greenland, warning that such moves undermine international law and increase risks for smaller countries.

Kristersson said Washington should instead show gratitude toward Denmark, as it has been a longstanding ally. He also pledged Swedish support for Denmark.

The security conference in Salen began in 1946 and is organized by the Swedish civic defense organization Folk och Forsvar. Salen is a mountain town about 400 km northwest of the capital, Stockholm.

Why Trump administration wants Greenland

Since taking office in January 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring control of Greenland, stating that he would not rule out the use of "military or economic coercion" to achieve that goal. Last month, Trump appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as U.S. special envoy to Greenland, renewing diplomatic tensions between Washington and the Danish Realm. Trump said in a recent interview that the United States "absolutely" needs Greenland.

"Location, location, location." The Associated Press invoked the real-estate mantra three times to explain Trump's enduring desire for Greenland.

Lying to the north-east of the North American continent, Greenland is the world's largest island that isn't a continent. It is an autonomous territory within Denmark, enjoying extensive self-rule, though defence and foreign policy remain in Copenhagen's hands. The United States already maintains a military base there.

Climate change is sharpening the island's significance. As Arctic sea ice melts, northern shipping routes are becoming increasingly viable, offering shorter transit times and alternatives to chokepoints such as the Suez and Panama canals, despite the harsh weather and treacherous seas that persist. Even so, control of Greenland would allow the United States to command access routes from both the North Atlantic and the Arctic into North America.

The island is rich in minerals indispensable to the energy transition and advanced manufacturing, including rare earths, graphite, copper and nickel. A 2023 study by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland estimates that roughly 400,000 square kilometers of the island are ice-free, underpinned by a complex geological structure spanning nearly four billion years of Earth's history – conditions well suited to mineral exploration.

According to the European Commission, 25 of the EU's 34 strategically important materials can be found in Greenland. The United States Geological Survey, for its part, judges that surrounding waters may also hold substantial oil and gas reserves.

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Greenland says it should be defended by NATO, rejects any U.S. takeover

(With input from Xinhua)