Nato silence on Donald Trump’s Greenland threats rattles European allies

The Financial Times ^ | January 10, 2026 | Henry Foy and Richard Milne

[MinorityRepublican]

Nato’s silence in response to Donald Trump’s threats to seize Greenland has prompted alarm among European capitals fearful that the alliance is failing to defend the rights of Denmark.

It has not issued a public statement asserting Denmark and Greenland’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, or responded to the US president’s stated ambition for the vast Arctic island that is part of the kingdom of Denmark.

That has raised the ire of European members trying to present a united front and ease transatlantic tensions, and stands in stark contrast to the EU’s recent efforts to rally around Copenhagen.

Mark Rutte, the alliance’s secretary-general who enjoys a warm relationship with Trump, has been unusually absent on such a critical security issue affecting his membership. Suggestions from Paris and other capitals for enhanced Nato activity in Greenland have not yet been taken up.

While European officials accept that the US’s central role in the military alliance limits its options to respond, many told the FT that its absence from the crisis risks enhancing the sense of Trump’s impunity in dealing with allies and exploiting Europe’s security dependency on Washington.

“Since we’re clearly talking about nations that are all Nato allies, Nato should initiate a serious debate on this . . . in order to reduce or ease the pressure on the issue,” said Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister. “The debate is a debate that must involve Nato.”

Trump has accused Denmark of failing to adequately protect the island and invest in its security despite what he claims is rising Russian and Chinese naval activity around it. The White House has said military action was “an option” alongside purchase or other methods of taking control.

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TOPICS: European Union; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: arctic; denmark; eu; fakenews; greenland; northatlantic

[stanne]

NATO does not override the Monroe Doctrine?. I think maybe this is the case

[fidelis]

Since when did NATO become a word—”Nato”? NATO is an acronym (like NASA) which stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

[glorgau]

Maybe the whole purpose of the Greenland weave is to shatter NATO?

[DesertRhino]

I like how they pretend “NATO” is any different from the EU.
(with the exception that we are not EU)

[Dr. Sivana]

Since when did NATO become a word—”Nato”? NATO is an acronym (like NASA) which stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

British English handles abbreviations and acronyms differently than U.S. English does.

[Antioch]

I really wish everyone would stop yapping about this obsolete and hypocritical doctrine with no constitutional basis. The Monroe doctrine of 2 centuries ago is an informal RECIPROCAL understanding in which European powers would agree not to interfere in countries of the western hemisphere IN EXCHANGE for the American pledge not to interfere in Europe’s sphere of influence. Clearly the OSS and CIA have thrown the American side of the bargain in the crapper with their post war shenanigans, war on Yugoslavia and proxy war in Ukraine and the current Greenland threats. Monroe is dead.

[fishtank]

If Russia joins Nato, will it become Naruto?

[DesertRhino]

Naruto....Sounds like a beautiful island in the Pacific, with some endless beach.

[CodeToad]

Same with the word “radar”, which is an acronym, not a word, yet, rarely is it ever capitalized.

[piasa]

Not really- the relevant European powers asked us to get involved in both.

[piasa]

No, it will become USSR2.