Since Donald Trump was elected in November 2024, a historic diplomatic crisis has opened up between the United States and Denmark over the question of who controls Greenland. Trump, on the one hand, views Greenland and the Arctic in general as a key strategic area for US interests. The Danish ruling class, meanwhile, sees their Greenlandic colony as their ‘golden ticket’ to the White House, without which their position on the international stage would be diminished to the level of complete insignificance.

Donald Trump’s threat to take over Greenland has escalated compared to a year ago, when he was just sworn in as president. He has threatened tariffs, military force, and all sorts of other things. It is still uncertain where it will all end, but it has put the Danish government under enormous pressure and, at the same time, shocked many people at home.

This article was originally published on 14 January, 2026. The situation between the USA and Greenland has developed very quickly, and so parts of this article may have been superseded by events. And yet, in analysing Trump’s reasons for wanting Greenland, and the hypocrisy of the Danish ruling class – who fear losing their colonial possession – this article remains useful in understanding the general processes that are now unfolding at pace.