Tasha Kheiriddin
In an unprecedented move last week, Denmark labeled its ally the United States as a potential security risk. A report by the Danish Defense Intelligence Service argued Washington is using its economic and military power to “assert its will,” creating new security risks for Europe and for Greenland, Denmark’s semi-autonomous territory.
NATO allies have been at odds before: Turkey and Greece clashed over Cyprus when Turkey invaded the island in 1974, Canada and Spain during a 1995 dispute over fishing rights. But the Danish report stands apart: It is one of the strongest warnings about the US to come from another member state.
How we got here. Concerns over Greenland’s sovereignty have escalated since US President Donald Trump took office. He has repeatedly insisted the island is critical for national security. Economic factors are at play too: Greenland is rich in rare earth minerals needed to manufacture much of today’s technology, from advanced batteries to military jets. The island’s position in the Arctic puts it in the middle of an international competition with Russia and China over shipping and deep sea mining. Trump has even refused to rule out taking Greenland by force, a stance that has strained relations between Copenhagen and Washington.
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