European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius warned on Monday that it would be the end of NATO if the United States (U.S.) were to take over Greenland by force, and that European Union (EU) member states are obliged to provide assistance to Denmark in the event of military aggression.
U.S. President Donald Trump previously stated that the U.S. must possess Greenland, an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark, in order to prevent Russia or China from taking over the strategically positioned and mineral-rich Arctic territory. Trump assessed that the existing U.S. military presence in Greenland is insufficient. Both Greenland and Denmark have said that the territory is not for sale, but Trump has not ruled out the possibility of taking it by force.
“I agree with the Danish prime minister that this would be the end of NATO, and public reactions would also be very, very negative,” Kubilius stated at a security conference in Sweden.
Kubilius stressed that Article 42.7 of the Treaty on EU obliges member states to help Denmark if it faces military aggression. “Much will depend on how Denmark reacts and what its position will be, but there is undoubtedly an obligation for member states to provide mutual assistance if a member faces military aggression,” he said.
The statements come at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions in the Arctic, where interest and competition among major powers are growing due to the region’s strategic position, energy resources, and new shipping routes opening up as a result of climate change.
Trump has repeatedly emphasized that control over Greenland is key to U.S. national security, citing the risk of strengthening Russian and Chinese influence in the region. European officials, however, warn that any attempt to forcibly change the status of the territory would have serious consequences for transatlantic relations and collective security.
Kubilius reiterated that the EU‘s legal framework clearly defines the obligation of mutual defense, emphasizing that any military pressure on Denmark would activate solidarity mechanisms among member states. According to him, Europe’s political and security stability largely depends on preserving international law and respecting state sovereignty.
NATO has not yet officially commented on these statements, while the debate over Greenland’s role in the global security architecture continues among the allies.
