Greenland and Trump: Enough is enough!

The mounting pressure on Greenland and Denmark by President Trump threatens more than the rights of the people of these two national communities. 

A brief history

First of all, before anything else is said, here's a very brief history...

• 1261: Greenland (settled by Vikings in the 10th century) formally submits to the Norwegian crown. 
• 1380: Norway enters a dynastic union with Denmark. Greenland becomes closely tied to Denmark. 
• 1814 (Treaty of Kiel): Denmark separates from Norway but retains Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands. 
• 19th–early 20th century: Greenland governed as a Danish colony. Inuit population largely excluded from political power; economy centred on trade monopolies. 
• Other countries show strategic and territorial interest. In 1867, 1910 and during WWI the US tries to get possession of it but Denmark refuses.
• 1940: Nazi Germany occupies Denmark. Greenland cut off from Denmark; local officials govern independently. 
• 1941: United States assumes defence of Greenland under agreement with Denmark. 
• US builds airfields, weather stations, and military bases. This marks the first major US military presence on Greenland. 
• 1946: United States offers to buy Greenland for $100 million (gold). Denmark refuses. US had earlier offered in the 19th century and the early 20th century. 
• 1951: Defence Agreement - US retains extensive military rights on Greenland. 
• 1953: Greenland ceases to be a colony and becomes an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark. 
• 1979: Greenland granted Home Rule. 
• 2009: Self-Government Act - Greenland gains control over most domestic affairs. Explicit right to independence via referendum. Denmark retains control of defence and foreign affairs. 

In short, Danish sovereignty over Greenland stretches back to 1380. Since then, the largest island in the world has gone from a colony to the semi-independent homeland of the Inuit people who now make up the overwhelming majority of the community.  

Greenland, the USA, and 'supportive' NATO allies

Post-1945, Denmark became a member of NATO and the protective security arrangements of NATO (most notably the Article 5 mutual defence against aggression) covered Greenland as part of the Kingdom of Denmark. In this time, the US gained the right to an extensive military presence on Greenland and still enjoys this right. 

However, since 2019, Donald Trump has made increasingly bellicose statements regarding Greenland and Denmark. This started with offers (rejected) to buy it for the USA and, in early 2026, this escalated to threats of military action if thwarted (we are told nothing is off the table) and, most recently, the threat of punitive tariffs against allies who are showing solidarity with Greenland and Denmark in the face of mounting threats by Trump. 

What we are currently seeing is unprecedented coercive action by the USA (under Trump) towards a NATO ally and, now, towards other NATO allies who are adopting a supportive position towards the rights of Greenlanders to self-determination (as provided by the law of 2009) and the sovereignty of Denmark.

Trump-imperialism in this matter threatens the very fabric of the international treaty-based order that has guaranteed European and North Atlantic security since WWII. Even if resolved without further escalation, it has fundamentally undermined trust in the USA (under Trump, Vance and their allies) as a partner and a friendly state. No wonder the Russian media outlet Rossiyskaya Gazeta is enjoying the situation.

The Putin-state view is summed up in its statement: “Standing in the way of the US president's historic breakthrough is the stubbornness of Copenhagen and the mock solidarity of intransigent European countries, including so-called friends of America, Britain and France.” The Kremlin is clearly overjoyed. All supporters of democracy, NATO, and the rule of law should be dismayed. 

What is clear is that Trump hopes that, by 4 July 2026 (the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence) he will have gone down in history as a president comparable to the occupants of the White House who oversaw the Louisiana Purchase (1803) and the acquisition of Alaska (1867).

This is about much more that US security (which existing military rights in Greenland could ensure); this is about getting mineral rights, in conjunction with a land-grab to satisfy one man’s enormous ego. 

How should we, as Evangelicals, respond?

That satisfying one man’s egotistical wishes should come at the cost of the security apparatus of Europe and the North Atlantic (with global ramifications) seems of no importance to the current occupant of the White House and his administration. It is a disgraceful situation. Enough is enough! But the question now is how NATO allies can stop Trump destroying NATO, while somehow keeping the US engaged with Europe. A hugely difficult task.

For Christians, too, it should also be hard to reconcile many current Trump actions with a principled approach to global issues.

When Trump official Stephen Miller articulates the principles of the new Trumpian world view being  “governed by strength…force…power,” it is strikingly reminiscent of the unprincipled exercise of worldly power so energetically condemned by Old Testament prophets. One is reminded of those “who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord” (Isaiah 31v1 NIV).

“Blessed are the meek…the merciful…the peacemakers” (Matthew 5v5-9) seems far from such a policy, that is devoid of any underlying ideology or principle other that the raw exercise of force. Might is right and ruthless acquisition of wealth guides the Trumpian world order, as Denmark and Greenland are discovering. 

And this is the same administration that has thrown millions of the global poor to the wolves in its policy of abandoning USAID. On the latter point they might ponder on the command: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,” (Matthew 5v6) and how pursuing such MAGA-policies impact on the world's poor and sick.

Christians should be praying that the US adopts a foreign policy outlook that attempt to embody principles of justice, fairness, cooperation and loyalty. At present, these seem in very short supply.