The ambitions of US President Donald Trump regarding Greenland have drawn sharp criticism from within Germany’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), with leading foreign policy expert Jürgen Hardt branding the pursuit as “imperialism in its purest form”. Hardt, speaking in a recent interview with “Der Spiegel”, accused Trump of harboring an expansionist territorial agenda fuelled by a desire to secure a unique place in US history.
According to Hardt, Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again” extends beyond a domestic political message, encompassing a drive to “Make America Greater” territorially. The potential acquisition of Greenland, which would increase the United States’ landmass by approximately 20%, represents a particularly appealing prospect, he argued.
While acknowledging existing US security interests in the Arctic region, which are currently addressed through deployments and NATO cooperation, Hardt insists that territorial acquisition is the primary motivator. He warned that Europe must not permit this “game with the map” emphasizing the potential destabilizing impact of such a maneuver.
Drawing a pointed comparison to the US approach towards Venezuela, Hardt underscored the legal complexities and potential ramifications of unilateral action against Greenland. “An aggressive action towards Greenland would be a thousand times more a violation of international law, because Greenland has a legitimate, democratically legitimized government. Greenland clearly belongs to the Danish Kingdom according to international law.
Hardt’s assessment carries significant weight, highlighting a potential rupture within the transatlantic alliance. He explicitly warned that a US assault on Greenland would almost certainly trigger Denmark’s withdrawal from NATO. This, he contends, would force the US Congress to confront the consequences of sacrificing a crucial international alliance and its global dominance – a scenario that could ultimately lead to Trump’s political downfall.
The situation underscores the complexities of US-Denmark relations and raises questions about the future of NATO. Greenland, along with the Faroe Islands, forms an autonomous part of the Danish Kingdom, yet Trump’s renewed interest in the territory presents a significant challenge to established international norms and alliances. The incident also highlights a growing divergence in political perspectives regarding the role of US power and the interpretation of international law within the transatlantic partnership.
