Even if he is joking around, Denmark deserves better than President-elect Donald Trump’s refusal to rule out using force to turn its Greenland territory into the 51st American state. Denmark similarly deserves better than the silly grins on the faces of Donald Trump Jr. and Charlie Kirk as they run around Greenland pretending it will soon join a new American empire.
Yes, Trump is likely jesting or attempting to push Denmark to increase defense spending in relation to Arctic security operations. Yes, his interest in purchasing Greenland is legitimate, even if highly unlikely to result in an Alaska-style acquisition. Yes, Greenland’s improved security posture matters to American and European security amid escalating Russian and Chinese efforts to militarize the Arctic. Again, however, Denmark deserves better than the jesting insult that its territory might soon be taken by force of American arms.
