US Still Wants Greenland Despite Softer Tone

Femi Ajakaye

May 18, 2026
3:37 pm

A senior US Republican visited Greenland this week with softer language but the same goal: greater American control over the Arctic island. Denmark and Greenland continue to say no, but the pressure isn’t going away.

Republican Senator Bill Landry traveled to Greenland recently as part of a congressional delegation. His tone was reportedly friendlier than the blunt demands made by President Trump earlier this year. But according to experts quoted by DR, the underlying mission has not changed. Washington still wants more influence over the island, whether through expanded military presence, security arrangements, or something else entirely.

The difference now is presentation. Where Trump made headlines with talk of purchasing Greenland outright, senators and diplomats are talking cooperation and investment. It sounds better. It probably polls better back home. But for those of us who have watched this story unfold over the past few months, the shift feels more tactical than genuine.

Why Greenland Matters

Greenland sits between North America and Europe. It hosts Pituffik Space Base, a critical US early warning facility. As Arctic ice melts and great power competition heats up, control of air and sea routes through the region becomes more valuable. That is not a secret. It is the reason the issue keeps coming back.

Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but it has enjoyed broad autonomy since 2009. That means Nuuk controls most domestic policy. Copenhagen handles defence and foreign affairs. Any change in that arrangement would require consent from both Greenland and Denmark. There is no shortcut.

Denmark and Greenland Hold the Line

Danish and Greenlandic leaders have been clear. The island is not for sale. In January, Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt and Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen met US senators in Washington. The message was the same: sovereignty is not negotiable.

Former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who also served as NATO Secretary General, went further. He warned that a coercive US approach could damage NATO itself. That is a significant statement from someone with deep ties to both Denmark and the alliance.

I have lived in Denmark long enough to know that this kind of rhetoric does not come lightly. Danish political culture prizes consensus and restraint. When senior figures start warning about threats to NATO, it means the issue has moved beyond diplomatic theater.

Europe Is Watching

The Greenland dispute is not just a bilateral problem anymore. European countries have reportedly increased military activity around the island. That reflects concern not only about sovereignty but about precedent. If a superpower can pressure an ally over territory, what does that mean for alliance cohesion?

Denmark is already investing heavily in Arctic defence. The country is spending 3.3 percent of GDP on defence, including drones, surveillance, and heavy equipment. That is not just about Russia. It is also about making sure Greenland remains Danish without question.

From where I sit in Copenhagen, the mood is tense but controlled. Most Danes I talk to see the US pressure as unwelcome and unnecessary. Greenland is not empty land waiting to be claimed. It has people, a government, and political agency.

What Comes Next

The question now is whether Washington will keep pushing or accept that Greenland is not available. Landry’s visit suggests the US is trying a gentler approach. But gentle pressure is still pressure.

Denmark and Greenland appear united for now. But this is a long game. Arctic security is only becoming more important. If the US keeps testing boundaries, Denmark will have to decide how much diplomatic capital it is willing to spend defending a principle that should not need defending in the first place.

I hope cooler heads prevail. But hope is not strategy. And in 2026, the Arctic is no longer a frozen backwater. It is contested ground.