A potential US military takeover of Greenland would mark the end of NATO, warned European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, according to Reuters.
Kubilius stated on Monday that the European Union could help guarantee Greenland’s security if Denmark requests assistance, but stressed that any military action by the United States against Greenland would have devastating consequences for the transatlantic alliance.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States must “own” Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, claiming this is necessary to prevent Russian or Chinese influence in the strategically vital and mineral-rich Arctic region. Trump has also suggested that current US military presence in Greenland is insufficient, and has not ruled out the use of force.
Denmark and the United States, both NATO members, are expected to hold talks this week to discuss Greenland, amid rising diplomatic tensions. Both Greenlandic and Danish authorities have firmly stated that Greenland is not for sale.
“I agree with the Danish Prime Minister that this would be the end of NATO,” Kubilius told Reuters during a security conference in Sweden, adding that such a move would also have “extremely negative consequences among citizens and severely damage transatlantic relations.”
He warned that a US military takeover would result in deep political, economic, and diplomatic fallout, questioning who would recognize such an occupation and how it would affect EU–US relations, including trade, where the US itself could face “quite painful consequences.”
Kubilius noted that Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty obliges member states to provide mutual assistance if a member state faces military aggression, meaning the EU would be legally bound to support Denmark in such a scenario.
While expressing doubt that a US invasion would actually occur, Kubilius emphasized that any attempt to seize Greenland by force would fundamentally undermine NATO, European security, and global trust in the transatlantic partnership.
Meanwhile, Trump responded on social media, writing: “I am the one who saved NATO!!!”, without providing further explanation.
