Yet European officials argue that actual possession of Greenland is unnecessary to achieve these objectives. The United States already enjoys extensive defense rights under the 1951 Greenland Defense Agreement, which allows it to operate and maintain facilities including the strategically critical Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base). This installation plays a pivotal role in missile warning and space surveillance, functions central to the defense of North America and NATO allies. From Europe’s perspective, Trump’s insistence on direct ownership—rather than cooperative arrangements—appears driven less by practical defense needs than by a worldview that equates territorial control with credibility and strength. For European governments, who prioritize sovereignty and the principles of partnership, this approach is deeply unsettling.
Geopolitical Ramifications: Unilateralism and Strategic Divides Continue reading…
