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What Could Happen If Donald Trump Tried To Take Greenland
Concern in Greenland is growing after President Donald Trump‘s military operation in Venezuela – but what would actually happen if he did try to take the territory?
The 79-year-old President first showed interest in Greenland in March 2025, after sending Vice President JD Vance overseas to inspect a naval base located there.
He has repeated his ‘need’ for the territory several times since, including following the US raid on Venezuela, in which the US military captured President Nicolás Maduro.
After putting boots on the ground in Venezuela, Trump reiterated his intentions to make Greenland part of the US.
US captures President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela
The President announced earlier this week that in the early hours of Saturday morning (January 3), Maduro and his wife, First Lady Cilia Flores, were taken aboard the USS Iwo Jima helicopter.
In an update, US Attorney General Pam Bondi said the two had been indicted in the Southern District of New York.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, she added: “They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”
Trump has also stated that the US will ‘run’ the country until a ‘safe, proper and judicious transition’ can be carried out.
In a news conference, the President said: “We’re going to be running it with a group, and we’re going to make sure it’s run properly.”
But it seems the Republican has his sights set on another region following the military operation.
Why does Donald Trump want Greenland?
Greenland currently belongs to Denmark, which is a member of NATO and the European Union.
However, it seems Trump is fixated on making it American territory.
Speaking onboard Air Force One after the military operation in Venezuela, Trump said: “We need Greenland for a national security situation.
“It’s so strategic. Right now, Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.”
A day earlier, he reiterated: “We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence.”
However, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen urged America to stop with their threats immediately.
Danish Prime Minister has responded
She stated: “It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the US needing to take over Greenland.
“The US has no right to annex any of the three countries in the Danish Kingdom.”
The EU has already denounced the US’s proposals to take over Greenland several times in 2025.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson noted: “Only Denmark and Greenland have the right to decide about their territories.”
In her statement, Frederiksen added: “I strongly urge the United States to cease its threats against a historically close ally, and against another country and another people who have stated very clearly that they are not for sale.”
What would happen if Trump tried to take Greenland?
Given that Greenland is territory belonging Denmark, a military takeover by the US would mean that they have attacked a NATO ally.
Frederiksen stated that Denmark’s membership in NATO places it under the alliance’s collective security guarantee.
In essence, it states that an armed attack against one or more NATO members is considered an attack against them all.
However, decisions made by NATO require all members to agree – and the US is part of it.
Given that they would be the attacker, it’s likely they would go against any decisions to protect the territory.
The President can move quickly
Another cause for concern is that the President can act quickly.
Trump does not need the permission of Congress to send troops into action before he does it.
Instead, Congress must be notified within 48 hours.
If they do not approve of the action, the operation is ordered to end after about 90 days, which still gives the US time for a military takeover.
If we look at the situation more broadly, a divided NATO would benefit rivals like Russia and China.
It proves to them that alliances in the west can be broken.
Denmark would likely turn to the United Nations, arguing that the US violated international law.
And even if NATO could not act as one, other allies would still be legally and politically obliged to help Denmark.
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