Who is saying what about Greenland? A compilation of opinions and analysis
After two weeks of escalating comments from the White House about “getting” Greenland, either by force or by purchase, publications around the world have pumped out commentary and analysis about what this means and what will likely happen next. They also offer recommendations for what Trump and the U.S. should do, what Denmark should do, and what Greenland should do.
It’s overwhelming. So Arctic Today has created this compilation of some of the top commentaries — from our publication and others — in one place. We list the title, the publication and a key quote, leaving you to choose what you want to dig into. There’s plenty out there for your reading pleasure.
“The U.S. simply cannot go it alone in the Arctic. That might be feasible in other parts of the globe, but the Arctic by its nature – the elements, the operating conditions, and the geography – forces compromise.”
Iris Ferguson, former Deputy Assistant Security of Defense for Arctic and Global Resilience.
For Greenland, the unimaginable is now on the table
“Seemingly unthinkable at the end of 2025, an invasion of Greenland is no longer far-fetched in this new and highly kinetic new year.”
Barry Scott Zellen, Research Scholar in the Department of Geography at the University of Connecticut
Denmark’s own history helps make case for US to buy Greenland
“Critics often frame the idea of buying Greenland as imperialist or legally absurd. This misunderstands both history and law.”
Scott Borgerson, entrepreneur currently building clean energy companies
Can the US put a price tag on Greenland?
“Even as a thought experiment that assumes the presence of a willing seller, discussion of the hypothetical sale of an autonomous territory such as Greenland rapidly encounters imponderables such as how a meaningful price tag could even be established.”
Mark John and Simon Johnson, Reuters
Venezuela yesterday, Greenland tomorrow
“Territorial control over Greenland appears less as a strategic necessity than as a personal prestige project, which would allow Trump to cast himself as one of the “great” imperial presidents of U.S. history.”
Lukas Wahden, publisher of the 66° North blog
Take the high road: A Marshall Plan for Greenland
“My advice to Trump is to avoid unhelpful and counter-productive talk of annexation and to focus instead on ensuring the U.S. leads the Western world in assisting Greenland with capacity-building support to unlock its full potential.”
Dwayne Menezes, founder of the Polar Research and Policy Initiative
Trump forces Iceland to rethink its future security
The “America First” ideology implies that the United States does not want allies. The law of the jungle is to prevail. It follows that other states are merely victims of the strongest.
Þorsteinn Pálsson, former Prime Minister of Iceland
Trump wants Greenland. Europe’s tepid response is putting NATO and global security at risk
“European leaders have been forced to confront a reality they hoped to avoid: the US, NATO’s founding member, may become the alliance’s gravest threat.”
Shannon Brincat and Juan Zahir Naranjo, The Conversation
Annexing Greenland would be a strategic catastrophe
“Given how many European nations still have territory in the Western Hemisphere—from the Azores to French Guiana to the British Virgin Islands—which of America’s allies could be assured that they wouldn’t be next?”
Casey Michel, Foreign Policy
Invade Greenland? Why?
“The President has good strategic instincts about the world’s largest island, so it’s regrettable that his interest is devolving into a self-defeating exercise in U.S. bullying.”
Wall Street Journal
Trump & Greenland: Is there logic in the chaos?
“The immediate response from both Mette Frederiksen and other European leaders in 2026 has been to stand up to the schoolyard bully. That could be effective, especially if the goal is to hold out until Trump faces a possible defeat in the November midterm elections.”
Andreas Østhagen, The Arctic Institute
Buy Greenland? Take it? Why? An old pact already gives Trump a free hand
“The question is: Does the United States even need to buy Greenland — or do something more drastic — to accomplish all of Mr. Trump’s goals?”
Jeffrey Gettleman, Amerlia Nierenberg and Maya Tekeli, The New York Times
It’s a bargain: the case of Greenland
“Denmark should prepare for a worst-case scenario.”
Iben Tybjærg Schacke-Barfoed, analyst and chief of communications and administration, EUROPA think tank
US conquers Greenland and quickly changes mind after realising it’s cold and there’s nothing there
“Trump was shown a really big island on the map in North America and thought he should have it. Only problem was he had no idea what he was going to do with it.”
Normal Island News blog
