Washington: US President Donald Trump has positioned Greenland as a crucial factor in national security, emphasizing the need for US control of the Arctic island to counteract Russian and Chinese influence. The move has sparked unease among NATO allies, particularly Denmark, which retains sovereignty over Greenland, a territory with a population of approximately 56,000.
According to Anadolu Agency, Trump's focus on China as an Arctic threat does not align with Beijing's current capabilities or intentions. Beijing-based analyst Einar Tangen stated that China lacks both the capability and the willingness to engage militarily in the Arctic region. Meanwhile, Sourabh Gupta, a policy expert at the Institute for China-America Studies, pointed out that Trump's stance highlights Washington's concerns over China's expanding global influence, indicating a geopolitical and economic competition.
Under Trump's leadership, US officials have accused China of making strategic moves in the Arctic, evidenced by an increase in Chinese vessels in polar waters. Last year, a Chinese scientific expedition, supported by the Tansuo-3 research vessel and the Fendouzhe submersible, completed a mission in the Arctic, aiming to research climate change and polar life adaptability. This mission has raised alarm in some Western media about potential military and commercial implications.
China declared itself a 'near-Arctic state' in 2018, and Tangen emphasized that China's activities in the Arctic focus on scientific research and sustainable development under its Polar Silk Road initiative. These activities are conducted within international legal frameworks, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
In response to the US allegations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning rejected the portrayal of China's Arctic engagements as a threat, advocating for peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region while respecting international law.
Gupta noted that Trump's rhetoric about Greenland reflects a US strategy to maintain strategic dominance in the Western Hemisphere rather than addressing a genuine security competition with China. Tangen argued that portraying China as a threat in the Arctic serves as a political maneuver for US territorial ambitions, potentially violating Danish sovereignty.
Analysts have cautioned that any unilateral action involving Greenland could severely damage NATO. Gupta highlighted that Greenland falls under NATO's security umbrella, suggesting that the US could enhance its defense resources within the alliance framework rather than pursuing unilateral control.
Trump recently stated he would not use force against Greenland and claimed to have reached an understanding with NATO, although the specifics remain undisclosed. Tangen warned that a forceful takeover could lead to global diplomatic realignments and isolate Washington.
Ali Wyne from the International Crisis Group cautioned that Trump's earlier rhetoric about expanding US territory could have significant repercussions, as it might encourage other nations like Russia and China to adopt similar strategies.