Commentary: U.S. coercion in Greenland reveals its face of hegemony

By Xinhuanet Writer Wang Yamei

BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- The Danish Ministry of Defense confirmed last Wednesday that Denmark is increasing its military presence in and around Greenland. On the same day, Sweden and Norway have said they would send military personnel to Greenland at Denmark’s request. France and Finland have both announced similar moves one day later.

The recent military reinforcement move from several European nations following U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that the U.S. would acquire Greenland “one way or the other” is not a minor diplomatic quarrel. It is a symptom of a deeper crisis, which lays bare Washington’s unilateralism, its disregard for international law, and the increasing fragility of NATO.

Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark with Copenhagen retaining control over defense and foreign affairs, is rich in minerals vital to the energy transition and advanced manufacturing, including rare earth elements, graphite, copper and nickel.

The U.S. views Greenland through the lens of great-power competition, seeking strategic control and access to key resources. Already maintaining a military base on the island, Washington explicitly links Greenland’s resource wealth to its long-standing security interests, which ultimately turns the vast and quiet island into an unlikely geopolitical flashpoint.

Since returning to the White House in 2025, Trump has repeatedly voiced his desire to “obtain” Greenland and has not ruled out the use of force. This dispute over Greenland is exposing growing cracks within NATO.

The most alarming scenario would be the U.S. resorting to force. A military action against the territory of Denmark, a founding member of NATO, would deal a devastating blow to the alliance. Article 5, the collective defense clause, would be rendered meaningless. Someone has warned that NATO would cease to exist as a credible political alliance.

The alliance is already under strain due to disputes over burden-sharing and strategic priorities. A coercive move on Greenland would become the final and irreparable rupture.

The U.S. coercion in Greenland directly collides with Danish sovereignty and broader European interests. According to the European Commission, 25 of the European Union’s (EU) 34 critical raw materials can be found in Greenland. The EU sees the self-governing island as an important place in its green transition. Yet Washington’s pressure tactics ignore these stakes. They treat an ally’s territory as a bargaining chip -- a flagrant violation of the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined in the UN Charter.

Faced with such pressure, the EU has little choice but to harden its political and security stance in support of Greenland.

Leaders of political groups in the European Parliament have issued a joint statement, condemning remarks by the Trump administration as a “blatant” challenge to international law and to the sovereignty of Denmark. They stressed that decisions concerning Greenland belong to Denmark and Greenland alone, and that any external attempt to change the status quo is unacceptable.

This dispute over Greenland highlights a harsh reality. U.S. foreign policy is increasingly operating outside the UN Charter and the international law. The UN Charter clearly prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of any state. By pressuring Denmark and openly floating the option of force, Washington is trampling on this basic principle. It sends a dangerous signal that “might makes right” is becoming an accepted logic, even among allies.

When strategic greed takes over, even long-standing partnerships can be treated as expendable.

The Greenland dispute is therefore more than a resource issue. It constitutes a trial of respect for international law and the future of transatlantic relations.

Upholding a hegemonic mindset, the U.S. itself is the primary force that has distorted the post-WWII international order. Its claims and actions are direct threat to world’s security and stability.

Furthermore, such U.S. coercion in Greenland will not only hurt its allies but also weaken its own global influence as a major country in the world.

The ice in Greenland is melting, and with it, perhaps, the image of Uncle Sam in the international community.

(Cartoon by Li Xuemei, Bai Minghui, Wang Chunyan)