STOCKHOLM – The European Union stands ready to provide security assistance for Greenland if requested by Denmark, the EU’s top defence commissioner stated on Monday, issuing a stark warning that any U.S. military takeover of the autonomous Danish territory would mean the end of the NATO alliance.
The comments from European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, follow renewed assertions from former U.S. President Donald Trump that the United States must own Greenland to preempt strategic acquisition by Russia or China. Trump has dismissed a mere U.S. military presence on the mineral-rich Arctic island as insufficient, arguing ownership is essential for national security.
“I agree with the Danish prime minister that it would be the end of NATO,” Kubilius said during a security conference in Sweden. “But also, among people, it would be very, very negative. It would have a very deep negative impact on our transatlantic relations.”
While Denmark and the United States are scheduled to hold talks this week regarding Greenland’s security, both Copenhagen and the government in Nuuk have repeatedly stated the island is not for sale. Trump, however, has not ruled out acquiring it by force—a scenario that has sent diplomatic shockwaves through European capitals.
Kubilius emphasized that while he does not believe a U.S. invasion is imminent, the EU’s mutual defence clause, Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union, would obligate all member states to aid Denmark if it faced armed aggression. “It will depend very much on Denmark… but definitely there is such an obligation,” he stated.
The commissioner forcefully challenged the logic of a forced occupation, warning it would trigger severe and wide-ranging consequences. “Who will recognize that occupation?” he asked. “What impacts on all the relationships between the United States and Europe, including, for example, trade, where Americans can face quite painful negative consequences.”
As a concrete alternative, Kubilius outlined the EU’s capacity to bolster Greenland’s security, should Denmark seek a partnership. “The EU can provide more security for Greenland, if Denmark requests it,” he said, listing potential support including troops, warships, and anti-drone capabilities. “That’s for military people to say what Greenland or the Arctic defence needs. Everything is possible.”
His remarks underscore a growing European focus on strategic autonomy and Arctic security amid fears of wavering U.S. commitments. Kubilius argued that Europe must urgently strengthen its own military capabilities, regardless of American support. “It will be a very big challenge to be ready to defend Europe, being independent, being without the United States,” he admitted.
He speculated that a U.S. withdrawal from NATO—a prospect he called “very tough”—would force a fundamental restructuring of the alliance. “The question would be how we can use NATO structures as a basis for a European pillar. But NATO, such as it is now, definitely will not exist anymore.”
Trump responded to the brewing controversy on his Truth Social platform on Monday, declaring, “I’m the one who SAVED NATO!!!” without providing further context. Last week, he asserted the U.S. would “always” support the alliance, noting that Russia and China only fear NATO as long as America is a member.
The confrontation over Greenland occurs against a backdrop of heightened European defence spending, spurred by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and past demands from Trump for allies to invest more in their own security. The EU’s offer represents a direct effort to provide Denmark with credible alternatives to unilateral U.S. action, seeking to preserve both transatlantic unity and the sovereignty of a European partner.