2026 US-Denmark Tensions/End of NATO

[Remius]

I've advocated against massive ground invasions, occupy forces. I'm for SOF and strategic strikes when it's necessary.

We know what you’ve been advocating.

Bullshit.

Deep.

Half of Europeans see Trump as enemy of Europe, survey finds

Nine-country poll finds half of people believe risk of war with Russia is high and three-quarters want to stay in EU

www.theguardian.com

Views of the United States

Across 24 nations, a 49% median view the U.S. favorably, while an identical share do not. People are also roughly split on whether U.S. democracy works well.

www.pewresearch.org

Who do people think is their country’s greatest threat?

China, Russia and the U.S. are widely viewed as top threats around the world. The U.S. is mostly seen as an economic threat, while Russia is primarily considered a security threat.

www.pewresearch.org

And more recently:

Eurasia Group | The Top Risks of 2026

www.eurasiagroup.net

Plenty of precedent out there, including Denmark selling the Danish West Indies to the US.

No that’s not what I asked. You said it would happen democratically. You haven’t said how.

Right now the Danes or the Greenlanders don’t seem interested.

POTUS doesn’t seem to care about that fact.

 

[ArmyRick]

Google AI tells me this (accuracy questionable)
Greenland primarily imports essential goods like petroleum products, machinery, transport equipment, and food, alongside manufactured items and medicines, largely sourced from Denmark, Sweden, and Spain. Key imports include refined fuels, fishing vessels, aircraft parts, and general consumer goods, reflecting its reliance on external trade for daily needs and specialized equipment.
Key Imported Goods

• Mineral Fuels & Oils: Refined petroleum and related products are a top import category.
• Machinery & Transport: Fishing vessels, factory ships, excavating machinery, and aircraft parts are crucial imports.
• Manufactured Goods: This broad category includes furniture, construction materials, and various finished products.
• Food & Beverages: Essential foodstuffs like bread, pastries, and other prepared foods are imported to supplement local production.
• Pharmaceuticals: Medicaments and other medicinal products are also significant imports.

Major Import Partners

• Denmark: Greenland's primary trade partner, supplying a large portion of its imports.
• Sweden & Spain: Important sources for machinery, petroleum, and other goods.
• Other Partners: Significant imports also come from Iceland, Germany, China, Canada, and the U.S..

 

[Jarnhamar]

Canada is far rougher shape than the USA. And if the USA goes down, so will we. Its cool, you don't agree, thats why their are called opinions.

I think you have a point.

If the US goes down hill they'll going to have a lot of people looking for an easy score. I'd expect cross border raids from the outside and lots of criminal and domestic terrorism from inside.

 

[Furniture]

Ummm, so apparently Thule AFB (USAF) is still operating in Greenland under a new name? Pituffik now.

If I was a little devil standing on Trump's shoulder I would say this
"Dude, people cheered your sacking of Maduro, but this Greenland business is way past funny or tolerable. Please, please, make a sweet ass deal with Greenland, guaranteeing their sovereignty, taking the burden off Denmark (who lets be realistic can't do it either), and load up your USAF bases and USN ports. In return, Greenland gives American company mining rights to their vast minerals. And Greenland will purchase American food and goods they can not provide or make for themselves."

That might have worked at the start, but that's not what they did, and it's too late now. The people of Greenland have made it clear that they don't want to be American, and they are never going to trust a massive US military build-up on their soil now.

Greenland is already protected by being a member of NATO, meaning it has the full weight of NATO military forces protecting it, not just Denmark. That's the entire point of NATO, collective defence, so that larger nations can't bully the smaller ones individually.

 

[ArmyRick]

I think you have a point.

If the US goes down hill they'll going to have a lot of people looking for an easy score. I'd expect cross border raids from the outside and lots of criminal and domestic terrorism from inside.

From a nation filled with civilian owned military weapons and far more military experience amongst its population than ours.

 

[McG]

If Trump orders a military operation against a treaty ally, it's likely the single best opportunity to remove him that would ever occur.

There have already been purges and resignations within military leadership. The administration has managed to execute a few major operations before the legislative branch knew anything. Neither legislative house has held Trump’s executive in check yet, and there is tabled legislation to facilitate is ambitions of annexation. Global democracies cannot hope that Trump will not successfully launch a surprise operation without Congressional consult, and there is no sign that Congress will explicitly bar him from such an act before he does it.

But let’s suppose the legislative branch grows a spine in response to a military operation … it will be closing the door/gate after the livestock has escaped. It will be too late for everyone already killed because of the operation. It will likely have been the trigger for Russia and China to launch new offensive operations in their own claimed spheres of authority, because how ready could a divided US & NATO fight on multiple fronts?

 

[ArmyRick]

That might have worked at the start, but that's not what they did, and it's too late now. The people of Greenland have made it clear that they don't want to be American, and they are never going to trust a massive US military build-up on their soil now.

Greenland is already protected by being a member of NATO, meaning it has the full weight of NATO military forces protecting it, not just Denmark. That's the entire point of NATO, collective defence, so that larger nations can't bully the smaller ones individually.

If TRump can STFU about owning Greenland (or is he putting people on edge on purpose like he did in realty?), the ONLY viable nation that could defend Greenland with strategic assets would be the USA. Full stop. Denmark, Germany, Norway, etc. can put very miniscule forces in Greenland. Amassing forces there is one thing, but then we start to open up on two fronts (Eastern Europe and the Arctic).

China is poking around the arctic, if they are in our waters, they are for sure in Greenlands. In 2011, on ILP, I was shocked to learn then from the RCAF CWO that Russia was still infiltrating our air space with their bombers. I can assume if they are doing it then, they are doing today. If they are in our air space, they are most likely poking around Greenland.

Do I think Trump should try to acquire Greenland? Hell no. They need to make a beautiful (trump loves that word) deal.

The question I would ask, is do we really want Greenland defended?

 

[ArmyRick]

meaning it has the full weight of NATO military forces protecting it,

We have all seen the resolve of NATO at times. I wouldn't count on too many willing to sacrifice too much to defend what they mostly view as a frozen rock with 60,000 people.

Eastern Europe is different, when Rusiia is on their front steps, they act differently.

 

[Altair]

Ah, thank you.

I know exactly what you are now. Very illuminating.

Was there ambiguity?

 

[McG]

NATO spilled a lot of its own blood to support the US in Afghanistan, and many even followed into Iraq. I don’t think I would assume away their willingness to fight when it will be in defence of themselves.

 

[Czech_pivo]

NATO spilled a lot of its own blood to support the US in Afghanistan, and many even followed into Iraq. I don’t think I would assume away their willingness to fight when it will be in defence of themselves.

I think the wars in Yugoslavia and Ukraine over the last 35yrs have shown that when the chips and down and the cause is important, they know how to kill just fine.

 

[Altair]

I think the wars in Yugoslavia and Ukraine over the last 35yrs have shown that when the chips and down and the cause is important, they know how to kill just fine.

Not going to lie.

It would be nice to fight with the Germans for once*

*When they are actually trying.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Not going to lie.

It would be nice to fight with the Germans for once*

*When they are actually trying.

I’m not sure there’s enough Prussian’s left among them to strike the fear of old.

 

[RangerRay]

You guys make it sound like Trump stole his own stockpile of oil to hoard then sell for personal profit.

What the US has done is restricted access of energy to China and Cuba with this move.

And is putting the funds of the sale of that oil in a “trust” account in Qatar. That doesn’t seem dodgy at all.

 

[Brad Sallows]

Neither legislative house has held Trump’s executive in check yet, and there is tabled legislation to facilitate is ambitions of annexation.

Fine's proposal? That's basically the US equivalent of a private member's bill in Canada, with about the same prospects.

 

[MacNav63]

I doubt anyone is thinking that whatever forces they put in Greenland will be able to prevent the US taking it if they choose to. It seems to me that the real purpose is as it always has been for NATO when it comes to forward deployed troops, attack and you attack us all. Also there is the "sod that, I'll make their eyes water" factor deployed on South Georgia by Keith Mills DSC. We can't stop them but we can sure as hell make them pay.

For some of these countries there is also their own geography to consider. The French have overseas territories some of which, including St. Pierre, are deemed to be part of metropolitan France, as well as others in the Western Hemisphere. Norway has Svalbard. That gives them their own stake in the message being sent.

 

[Brad Sallows]

But let’s suppose the legislative branch grows a spine in response to a military operation … it will be closing the door/gate after the livestock has escaped. It will be too late for everyone already killed because of the operation. It will likely have been the trigger for Russia and China to launch new offensive operations in their own claimed spheres of authority, because how ready could a divided US & NATO fight on multiple fronts?

I'm not merely proposing Congress might grow a spine; I'm proposing that Congress would end Trump's presidency. That, too, would be a message, and would solve a lot of problems.

 

[ArmyRick]

I'm proposing that Congress would end Trump's presidency

Not a bad idea at all, anyway we can get him to hit the Iranian leadership first with a load of missiles and drones?

 

[McG]

I'm not merely proposing Congress might grow a spine; I'm proposing that Congress would end Trump's presidency. That, too, would be a message, and would solve a lot of problems.

Too little too late if they allow him to first attack NATO before they act.

 

[CBH99]

No one is going to Greenlands aid unfortunately.

Because nobody needs to?

An American military occupation of Greenland will look pretty much the same as Greenland looks now...


Is Thule an inconvenience, or even an afterthought, to the people who live in Greenland?