"In short, America's plans in relation to Greenland are serious," Russian President Vladimir Putin said at Russia's Arctic Forum in Murmansk in March. Greenland, home to around 57,000 people, has unexpectedly taken center stage in world politics over the past few months. Although it gained self-rule in 1979, Denmark still retains control over its foreign and defense policy.
Ukrainian soldiers from the 28th Mechanized Brigade chatting with one another. Photo: David Kirichenko
Donald Trump’s interest in Greenland first surfaced during his first term, when reports emerged that he had privately discussed purchasing the island from Denmark. Trump said that it was “essentially a large real estate deal.”
Although the idea was widely mocked at the time and nothing materialized, it hinted at a larger ambition: securing control over a resource-rich territory as the Arctic takes on a growing role in global geopolitics.
During Trump’s second term, however, Greenland became the center of an international crisis. Relations with Denmark boiled over after renewed efforts by the Trump administration to assert influence over the island. First, Donald Trump Jr. visited Greenland, drawing significant media attention.
Trump himself commented, “The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”
Then, Vice President J.D. Vance visited to Greenland, where he was not welcomed by locals. The diplomatic tensions strained US-Danish relations and sent shockwaves through NATO. Trump then added, “I think Greenland is going to be something that maybe is in our future.”
Most recently, Trump said, “We need Greenland very badly. Greenland is a very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them, and all of that. But we need that for international security.” The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump has ordered the U.S. intelligence community to intensify surveillance on Greenland.
Polling showed that an overwhelming majority of Greenlanders opposed the idea of being purchased by the United States. A survey conducted by the Danish newspaper Berlingske and the Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq found that about 84% of Greenlanders support the goal of full independence. Only 6% of Greenlanders voiced support for joining the US. It’s clear that the people of Greenland have no desire to join the United States, but the aggressive rhetoric from the Trump administration has not stopped.
Branislav Slantchev, a professor of political science at UC San Diego, cautioned against reading too much into the bluster. “I tend to ignore Trump's rhetoric on anything because it changes so often, it's practically meaningless,” he said. “Greenland is a security concern for the US but it's nothing that we cannot work out with the Danes amicably.”
He added, “The only potential issue would be if it were to go independent – which means Denmark could no longer control its foreign policy – but this seems a fairly remote possibility still. Even if it should happen, the US is much more likely to arrange for COFA like we have with the Pacific islands, not annex it or conquer it.”
“Greenland is not an immediate concern anyway so there's no urgency,” Slantchev continued. “There's no support for doing anything drastic there so Trump's ideas are not likely to do much of anything. The fact that we have not bothered to increase the number of troops at our base there is telling you just how serious the Pentagon thinks it is.”
Taras Kuzio, a professor at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy noted the broader parallels at play. “The parallels are there in Trump and Putin ignoring and being disrespectful to international law and the sanctity of the territorial integrity of states. But let's not forget that Trump is not the only US president to ignore the sanctity of the territorial integrity of states over his demand Ukraine recognize Crimea as Russian.”
Ariana Gic, a political and legal analyst and co-author of the upcoming book Unrecognized War, also warned of a deeper pattern. She noted that President Trump had prioritized partnership with Russia over democratic allies, seeking to create a global order where major powers act without constraint from international or humanitarian law.
One Russian newspaper wrote: “Trump is destroying the world created by U.S. liberals…the changes in the global system serve [Russia’s] interests.”
Jim McBride, founder of Ukraine Defenders of America, highlighted what he believes is a troubling trend in U.S foreign policy: “Unfortunately, some leaders are accommodating authoritarian leaders at the expense of our allies and countries that are actually true ‘winners’ on the world stage but might not spend as much on defense or for some reason are considered not as tough as the United States.”
We asked Ukrainian soldiers fighting on the frontlines for their perspective.
Andrii, a soldier in Ukraine’s 109th Territorial Defense Brigade, reflected on the broader dangers he sees unfolding. “After the establishment of a lasting peace following the Second World War, when all the countries of the world agreed to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, a quasi-state led by Putin attacked Ukraine, creating a precedent for the redrawing of borders previously recognized by all nations,” he said.
“Following this, the short-sighted Trump also decided to play this dangerous game,” Andrii continued. “Instead of upholding the guarantees given to Ukraine, and seeing the impunity with which one dictator acted, he himself began to act like one by announcing intentions to occupy Greenland.”
For Andrii, the stakes go far beyond the fate of any one country. “People who think like dictators should not hold power, because humanity as a whole stands to lose much more than just Ukraine or Greenland. The very existence of planet Earth and humanity could be at stake.”
Others on the front lines echoed his concerns.
Norman, a drone pilot also from the 109th Territorial Defense Brigade said: "Putin is doing what he has long sought to achieve and what he was allowed to do. Trump says a lot of things, but so far none of it has been realized."
Ukrainian soldiers from the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade. Photo: David Kirichenko
Rima, a medic in the International Legion of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, drew a direct comparison between Putin’s justifications and Trump’s rhetoric. “One of Putin's reasons for invading Ukraine was national and international security – the exact same reasoning Trump used when speaking about Greenland. But we know both countries are rich in resources,” she said.
“Just because you want something from another country doesn’t mean you can walk in, occupy it, and take it. That’s a crime. It’s like someone walking into your backyard and saying, ‘Hey, since you have better grass and a better view, this is mine now and I’m taking it.’ No one would – or should – stand for that,” she added.
Others put it even more bluntly. OIeksandr, a drone pilot from the 23rd Mechanized Brigade, said, “Trump’s actions in Greenland are the same as what Putin is doing in Ukraine.”
Ivan, a soldier in Ukraine’s 28th Mechanized Brigade, noted the broader damage of Trump’s rhetoric. "Trump says many things that contradict common sense and reality, fueling populism around the world," he said.
Anatoliy is a commander of a mortar battery unit from Ukraine’s 92nd Separate Assault Brigade. Photo: David Kirichenko
For Anatoliy, a commander of a mortar battery unit from Ukraine’s 92nd Separate Assault Brigade, the problem lies deeper. “It seems to me that the world has gone mad,” he said.
“In every country, politicians should be between the ages of 35 and 55, and serve no more than two terms. Only then would things in this world improve,” Anatoliy added.
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