With Danish blood running through my veins, and having a familial connection to Greenland — my grand-father's cousin was one of the governors of the colony in the 1930s and in the 1940s, i.e., during World War II, and it was said Aksel Svane who walked down to the harbor of Godthaab (Good Hope, since rebaptized Nuuk) to welcome the first U.S. Navy ships in 1941 (prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor) — I cannot deny to being not entirely happy with the recent developments in the situation regarding the status of the planet's largest island.
At the same time, I understand why the Americans don't want — or, at least why Donald Trump doesn't want — to have another Cuba-type island among their neighbors, especially one of Greenland's size. (Indeed, it seems clear that Trump thinks that the 1960s "agreement" to leave the Castro dictatorship alone is madness, or at least utter weakness — especially now that China is not only trying to junk the Monroe Doctrine, it wants to establish itself as the head of the OAS — and that he is determined to ensure that Havana be the next socialist adversary to fall…)
In that perspective, you should read this blog's China / Greenland posts, especially You Cannot Understand Trump's Greenland-Panama-Canada Declarations Unless You Recognize the Extent of the China Threat, a significant part of which quotes a number of articles from The Economist:
… the London weekly points out that
Mr Trump’s allies point to China’s “Polar Silk Road”, a spree of infrastructure-building in the Arctic, as a threat … It is undeniable that Greenland is important to America’s national security. The shortest route for Russian nuclear missiles to reach America’s east coast goes right over the island: Pituffik Space Base in the territory’s north-west hosts part of America’s missile-early-warning system. The so-called Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom gap plays a central role in the high-stakes submarine contest between NATO members and Russia. … An independent Greenland could be vulnerable to coercion and be an unreliable ally.
Denmark's politicians are downplaying Trump's claims of Russian and Chinese threats to Greenland. But Danish intelligence [itself!] warned about Russia and China in stark terms.
Trump said last week that the U.S. needs Greenland “from the standpoint of national security” as he argued that the frozen autonomous territory owned by Denmark was “covered” with Russian and Chinese ships. Top Danish foreign policy and defense officials quickly sought to push back on Trump’s claims, claiming there are not Russian and Chinese ships near Greenland and going so far as to say that it is “delusional” to think Russia and China pose a threat to the massive frozen island.
Chinese propaganda outlets and its foreign ministry echoed the Danish denials and claimed the U.S. was acting out of a sense of self-interest, not based on security concerns.
But the "Intelligence Outlook 2025" report on the security of the Kingdom of Denmark, released just last month, had warned at great length that “China is preparing for a military presence in the Arctic” and that “China’s long-term Arctic interests include Greenland.” The report highlighted Chinese air-based, seaborne, and submersible activities in the Arctic.
The Danish intelligence report had further assessed that the militaries of China and Russia were collaborating more closely in the Arctic, displaying the growing “DragonBear” alliance between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. … The Pentagon’s Arctic Strategy — penned in 2024 during the Biden Administration — also warned about growing Russian and Chinese military cooperation in the Arctic. …This has prompted a flurry of pushback from Danish politicians who downplayed the threat posed by Russia and China, with the Chinese government and its propaganda arms directly echoing some of the denials by the Danes.
“I am head of the defence committee in Denmark. It is my job to be on top of security in Greenland and I get all relevant information about it,” Rasmus Jarlov, the Chair of Denmark’s Parliamentary Defense Committee, said on X over the weekend. “I can assure you that your fantasies about a big threat from China and Russia against Greenland are delusional. You are the threat. Not them.” …
China to Trump: "Stop using so-called China threat"
… But the Danish intelligence report painted a much more complicated picture than the denials from Danish politicians would suggest, laying out Chinese and Russian military objectives in the Arctic and interest in the Greenland region in particular as well. The report also found that the Russians viewed the ocean to the east of Greenland as key in any future war with NATO, and that China was eyeing Greenland for long-term strategic purposes as well.
… “Although Chinese companies have shown interest in investing in Greenland, this has so far not produced tangible results,” the Danish report added. “Nevertheless, China’s long-term Arctic interests include Greenland, and it is expected to continue pursuing cooperation with Greenland, particularly in research but also in commercial ventures.”
The intelligence assessment noted that “for the United States, the Arctic represents the first and most crucial line of early warning in the event of a great-power conflict with Russia or China.” …
Danish intel maps detail Russian and Chinese moves in Arctic and near Greenland
… Relatedly, the intelligence assessment made it clear that “China is Preparing for a Military Presence in the Arctic” as it stressed that “Chinese icebreakers and research vessels operate in the Arctic and have conducted joint patrol exercises with Russia in the region” and that “China aims to develop the capacity for independent military operations in the Arctic.”
… This map also detailed joint patrol flights carried out by Russia and China north of the Bering Strait in 2024, Russian and Chinese coast guard vessels jointly patrolling the Arctic ocean the same year, and Chinese research vessels conducting Arctic expeditions in 2025, which demonstrated “China’s ambition to operate both surface ships and submarines in Arctic waters.” …
China seeks parity with Russia and U.S. sub-launched missile capabilities
The intelligence report highlighted Russian and Chinese intentions for the Arctic region — including securing prime submarine locations to launch their nuclear weapons at the U.S. in the event of war. …
U.S. assessments also warn of Russian and Chinese threats in Arctic and near Greenland
… The Defense Department’s Arctic Strategy, published in the final year of the Biden Administration, also warned … that “the PRC and Russia are collaborating in the Arctic across multiple instruments of national power” and that “their growing alignment in the region is of concern.” …
Trump continues push for Greenland
Trump said Sunday on Air Force One that Greenland should make a deal with the U.S. as he criticized Denmark’s ability to protest [sic] the autonomous frozen island.
While RTBF's Annick Capelle turns to history to ask why Greenland belongs to Denmark in the first place and while Frank Gaffney explains why Greenland must be secured, Alexander B. Gray (a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council who served as chief of staff of the White House National Security Council, 2019-21) chose the Wall Street Journal to publish A Defense of the Donroe Doctrine in Greenland (Mange tak til Hr. Vincent Bourdonneau), stating that
Greenland can’t be allowed to fall under the sway of adversaries. … Mr. Trump’s bold action in Venezuela, and his commitment to the defense of the Western Hemisphere, will have a salutary global effect by restoring the U.S. deterrent. An assertive America confident in its power and role on the world stage is the surest guarantee of peace..
Richard James adds that
Greenland’s security is critical. It sits in North America, exposed to Russian and Chinese ambitions. Denmark and the EU have neglected defence and investment; with a tiny population and immense strategic value, US control is the only credible guarantee..
As for Frank Gaffney, he turns to view the sorry state of the situation in Europe:
"Denmark and other European nations that have proven indifferent to the ongoing invasions of their countries by sharia-supremacists are denouncing our President’s resolve. But NATO also requires Greenland to be in safe hands and cannot otherwise assure it will be."Related: • The Systematic Destruction of Denmark's Military Over 30 Years: "Ships that cannot sail; Planes that cannot fly; And cannons that cannot fire — Everything is missing"
• Avoiding the NATO Burden: "Denmark has made the skill of tricking the US into an art" Writes Danish Editor; "Denmark Deserves No Respect from America"
• Beijing's Road & Belt: China is not only trying to junk the Monroe Doctrine, it wants to establish itself as the head of the OAS
Greenland’s security is critical. It sits in North America, exposed to Russian and Chinese ambitions. Denmark and the EU have neglected defence and investment; with a tiny population and immense strategic value, US control is the only credible guarantee.. https://t.co/l5XiIJjgh4
— Richard James (@skisidjames) January 8, 2026
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