Concerns are mounting within Germany’s governing coalition regarding the future of Greenland, fueled by renewed pronouncements from US President Donald Trump. Security policymakers are voicing alarm and advocating for decisive action in response to what they perceive as a tangible threat to the Arctic territory.
CDU defense policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter, in statements to the Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers, characterized the situation as “very serious and real”. He cautioned that interpreting Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again” solely as an economic initiative demonstrates a profound misunderstanding. “Trump takes this phrase literally-also territorially” Kiesewetter stated, drawing parallels to the US’s aggressive actions toward Venezuela. He asserted that the US President’s ambitions extend beyond geopolitical influence, potentially encompassing the physical expansion of US territory.
Kiesewetter emphasized that a military response to any assertive moves by the United States toward Greenland would be premature and ill-advised without a significant strengthening of European security capabilities. He warned that inaction risks relegating Europe to a mere pawn in the escalating geopolitical struggle between Washington, Moscow and Beijing for dominance over Eurasia. He urged Europe to embrace a self-defined role as a powerful geo-economic force, actively cultivating and bolstering its capabilities. This, he argued, necessitates forging robust, global partnerships – extending beyond traditional alliances to include nations like Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Canada and countries in South America to ensure a robust framework for “space defense” and broader strategic security.
Siemtjie Möller, the SPD’s deputy parliamentary group chair, echoed these concerns, expressing significant worry over Trump’s repeated claims regarding the US’s purported security needs concerning Greenland. She underscored the necessity for the German government to unequivocally communicate to its American allies that the sovereignty of nations is sacrosanct and that Greenland remains an autonomously administered territory within the Danish Kingdom. This forceful declaration, she implies, is essential to safeguarding international law and preventing potential unilateral action by the United States. The incident highlights a growing unease within Germany about the reliability of transatlantic partnerships and the implications for European strategic autonomy.
