(L/R) US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio depart the Eisenhower Government Workplace Constructing on the White Home campus after a gathering with Danish Overseas Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland’s Overseas Minister Vivian Motzfeldt in Washington, DC, on Jan. 14, 2026.
Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty Photographs
Any U.S. try to seize Greenland by pressure would set off “monumental penalties” for the Western alliance and the worldwide order, Iceland’s former President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson mentioned, as President Donald Trump sharpens rhetoric on controlling the Arctic territory.
Grimsson warned on CNBC’s “Entry Center East” that “the fallout can be on a scale that we now have by no means seen in residing reminiscence.” Grimsson, the longest-serving president of Iceland from 1996 to 2016, at the moment serves because the Chairman of the Arctic Circle, the world’s largest annual gathering on Arctic points.
Trump has framed Greenland — an autonomous area throughout the Kingdom of Denmark — as central to U.S. nationwide safety, saying China and Russia had been increase their affect within the strategically situated minerals-rich space across the island.
A gathering on the White Home between officers from Greenland, Denmark and the U.S. Wednesday ended with “elementary disagreement” over the possession of the island, a Danish official mentioned following the assembly, including that either side would proceed to speak.
Trump had doubled down on his rhetoric on Greenland forward of the talks, saying on social media that something lower than Greenland turning into part of the USA was “unacceptable.”
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen made it clear Tuesday that the nation would select Denmark over the USA if it had to select.
The European Union Commissioner for Protection and Area Andius Kubilius mentioned earlier this week that any American army takeover of Greenland can be the tip of NATO, the U.S.-led army alliance of 32 nations that features Denmark.
A bunch of European nations, led by Britain and Germany, has reportedly been discussing plans to spice up their army presence in Greenland to discourage Trump’s aggressive takeover bid.
Grimsson identified that considerations about Russia or China’s rising affect within the Arctic had been overblown. “At the moment there may be not a direct, clear, apparent risk from Russia and China within the Arctic,” he mentioned.
U.S. ought to ‘begin at residence,’ not ‘purchase Greenland’
Grimsson additionally argued that if Trump’s aim is a stronger U.S. posture within the Arctic, Washington ought to concentrate on home capability. The U.S. is “already an Arctic nation,” he mentioned, noting its Arctic expanse is bigger than Texas.
Trump’s successive administrations have underinvested in infrastructure similar to icebreakers and ports in America’s Arctic, leaving the U.S. behind its rivals, he added. “In order for you an enhanced presence within the Arctic, begin at residence,” Grimsson mentioned, pointing to the absence of a significant harbor within the U.S. Arctic.
It’s unclear what strategic or financial benefit Washington would achieve from overtaking Greenland, the Arctic chief mentioned, noting that present preparations already give the U.S. intensive latitude.
The 1951 Greenland Protection Settlement allowed the U.S. to function American army bases within the island and Danish leaders have expressed willingness to work with Washington to broaden the American and NATO presence there.
Greenland’s authorities has additionally allowed American firms to take part in mining and different components of the financial system.
“There aren’t any obstacles in the meanwhile for enhanced American safety or enterprise presence inside Greenland,” he mentioned. “Since we now have not heard any extra detailed rationalization for this want, it is very obscure concretely what it’s about.”
As an alternative, Grimsson instructed Trump’s worldview — formed by his background in actual property — could also be influencing the fixation on territory. “He’s most likely the primary main world chief who had all his coaching and pondering performed via the actual property enterprise,” he mentioned. “Actual property guys suppose in places.”
When requested whether or not Trump may take Greenland by pressure, Grimsson mentioned a army transfer was conceivable given the imbalance of energy and Greenland’s small inhabitants, however warned the political prices can be unprecedented.
“Sure, in fact, it is potential,” he mentioned, however “the query is … what’s it going to do with it, other than .. placing the flag of the USA and buying location.”
