Former EU Commissioner Warns US Pressure on Greenland Could Threaten NATO
Former Danish Minister and European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager has warned that any US attempt to intervene in Greenland could pose “the most existential threat to NATO” in the alliance’s history.
Speaking to international media, Vestager said, “Even for President Trump, for one NATO country to attack another NATO country to acquire territory is really far reaching.” She echoed concerns previously raised by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius, cautioning against US efforts to gain control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory rich in critical minerals.
“For one NATO country to attack another NATO country’s territory would be the most existential threat to NATO we have ever seen,” Vestager said, amid mounting White House pressure on Copenhagen.
President Trump has argued that Greenland is strategically vital to US national security as a counterbalance to Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic. Denmark and Greenland, however, have firmly rejected the notion of a sale. Vestager stressed that existing treaties between the US and Denmark already allow for cooperation in the Arctic without transferring sovereignty. She also highlighted Denmark’s longstanding commitment to NATO and global security.
European nations, led by France and Germany, have expressed solidarity with Denmark. Reports have suggested the possibility of a European force, modelled after NATO, being deployed to Greenland to reinforce Arctic security and signal to the US that Europe takes the region seriously.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte commented Monday that the alliance is not in “crisis” mode, noting that both Denmark and the US are working to reinforce Arctic security. Meanwhile, the Danish prime minister warned that any attempt to seize Greenland could permanently damage NATO and the post-World War II security framework.
When asked about the EU’s potential role in supporting Denmark and Greenland, Vestager said ties could be strengthened through investment and closer political cooperation if Greenland’s people so choose. “These are decisions for the people of Greenland to make. If they ever want to join the European Union again, it’s for them to start that discussion,” she said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet Danish officials on Wednesday to discuss the matter.
Vestager, who served as Denmark’s economy minister from 2011 to 2014, rose to international prominence during her decade-long tenure as European Commissioner, becoming one of the most recognizable Danish voices on the global stage.
