NATO has started to take steps to strengthen Arctic security after US President Donald Trump presses on his claim to seize Greenland.
POLITICO reported that European members of the North Atlantic treaty are weighing steps to strengthen Arctic security after Trump escalated claims over Greenland and refused to rule out using force to seize the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
NATO diplomats involved in the issue, who spoke anonymously to POLITICO, said initiating steps to strengthen West’s security in Greenland were raised during a closed-door meeting of the military alliance’s ambassadors in Brussels following recent statements from the White House claiming that the land is vulnerable to Russian and Chinese influence.
NATO ambassadors at the closed-door meeting agreed that the North Atlantic military alliance should reinforce its Arctic flank by improving intelligence and surveillance, directing more defense spending toward the Arctic, transferring additional military equipment to the region, and increasing the number of military exercises.
They said concerns over Greenland reflect growing European unease over Trump’s intentions.
NATO ambassadors said European leaders aimed to defuse the tense situation. A military intervention, Denmark has warned, would effectively spell the end of the NATO military alliance.
The Trump administration has “ratcheted up” its claims on Greenland and repeatedly declined to rule out a military takeover.
Trump and his advisors have floated various scenarios for bringing Greenland under US control.
According to Reuters, the Trump administration has suggested paying a lump-sum of $100,000 per person to Greenland residents to join the US.
Also, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the use of military force to seize Greenland remained “always an option.”
Trump has threatened to seize Greenland by force.
He insisted that he needed Greenland “very badly,” warning that the US is “going to do something [there] whether they like it or not,” adding,“If we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland.”
Trump has further justified Washington’s military campaign by pointing to Greenland’s raw materials and oil potential, as well as what he described as a threatening presence of Russian and Chinese ships near the island.
European leaders, particularly Copenhagen and Nuuk, have rejected Trump’s claims, emphasizing on their collective opposition to any US move in this regard.
Denmark’s ambassador has framed the matter of Russian and Chinese presence in the East Artic as a bilateral dispute with the US.
However, some experts have described the proximity of Russian and Chinese shipping lines as “productive” and “constructive.”
Meantime, opinion polls conducted among Greenlanders also reportedly showed that the majority of the population were opposed to becoming a US citizen.
US polling showed that only 7 percent of Americans support the idea of a US military invasion of the territory.
Trump brought up the matter of taking over Greenland in 2019 during his first presidency.
During his second presidency, he brought up the idea in a bolder manner after the US military strikes on Caracas and the illegal abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earlier this month.
The move took place under the false pretext of the Trump administration’s campaign against drug trafficking, but in reality, for taking control of the Latin American country’s vast oil reserves.