NUUK, Greenland — Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s persistent campaign to acquire Greenland as a national security priority during his second term has been systematically dismantled by Arctic security specialists and factual analysis. His assertions regarding Russian and Chinese military presence near the autonomous Danish territory have been categorically refuted by international experts.
Trump repeatedly characterized Greenland’s acquisition as crucial to preventing Russian or Chinese domination, even suggesting military force as a potential option. He claimed without evidence that “Russian destroyers, Chinese destroyers, and Russian submarines” were operating en masse around Greenland’s coastline.
Arctic security researchers from multiple institutions have contradicted these statements. Andreas Østhagen of Oslo’s Fridtjof Nansen Institute stated the claims “make no sense in terms of facts,” noting that Russia primarily operates in the Barents Sea while both nations focus activities in the Bering Sea south of Alaska. Danish researcher Lin Mortensgaard acknowledged possible Russian submarine presence—common throughout the Arctic—but confirmed no surface vessels near Greenland.
Greenland’s own Business Minister Naaja Nathanielsen responded to inquiries about foreign vessels by stating “Not that we are aware of,” adding that while Arctic interest exists from Russia and China, “we don’t detect an actual threat.”
Trump’s derisive comments about Denmark’s Greenland defenses—referencing “two dog sleds”—also misrepresent reality. The Sirius Dog Sled Patrol constitutes an elite Danish naval unit performing long-range reconnaissance and sovereignty enforcement. Denmark maintains substantial military infrastructure including patrol ships, surveillance aircraft, and is investing $2.3 billion in enhanced capabilities including new Arctic vessels and surveillance drones. The U.S. Department of Defense itself operates the strategic Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland under a 1951 treaty.
Historical claims about Danish sovereignty were equally flawed. Greenland’s indigenous population arrived circa 2,500 B.C., with modern Danish colonization beginning in the 18th century. International law has evolved from colonial land grabs to respecting post-WWII borders and self-determination principles. Greenland achieved self-governing status within the Danish kingdom in 2009 with rights to pursue independence through democratic processes.
Experts emphasize that contemporary geopolitics operates under frameworks prohibiting territorial acquisition by force, making Trump’s proposals both factually unsupported and legally untenable under modern international norms.