GREENLAND AS A STRATEGIC NECESSITY

Abstract

This article examines the growing geopolitical significance of Greenland within the evolving architecture of Arctic and global security, with particular attention to the strategic rationale underlying former U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions regarding the necessity of Greenland for American national security. Moving beyond the perception of such statements as rhetorical excess, the study situates U.S. interest in Greenland within broader structural dynamics, including climate change, Arctic militarization, critical resource competition,  and the transformation of transatlantic relations. The analysis explores Greenland’s historical and legal status within the Kingdom of Denmark, its economic structure and vulnerabilities, and its geostrategic value as a node in missile defense, maritime control, and emerging Arctic infrastructure. Furthermore, the article assesses the implications of intensified U.S. involvement for European security,  Danish sovereignty, NATO cohesion, and relations with Russia and China.  It argues that Greenland has become a test case for shifting norms in international order, where geo-economics and security considerations increasingly challenge established principles of sovereignty and alliance governance. The findings suggest that European actors must reassess long-held assumptions about the stability of transatlantic security arrangements and prepare for a more contested and multipolar Arctic future.