The i Paper has reported that the dispute regarding the island has undermined trust within the military alliance, with an insider stating that America “stabbed us in the back.”
On Monday, British media outlet the i Paper reported, citing sources, that NATO officials have started withholding some intelligence from the US due to concerns that it might be passed on to President Donald Trump and utilized to support his effort to gain control of Greenland.
In recent weeks, Trump has intensified his attempt to acquire Greenland – an autonomous Danish territory with a population of 56,000 – to counter the so – called threats from Russia and China, which both Moscow and Beijing have rejected.
Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on several European countries that oppose this idea. Both Denmark and its European allies have ruled out the transfer of the strategic island, insisting that “Greenland belongs to its people,” and warning the US of a “dangerous downward spiral.”
According to the i Paper, the dispute has strained the historically close relationship between the US and the UK. Trump’s threats have led officials to believe that Washington now regards Britain as “just part of Europe.”
A senior NATO insider told the outlet that the situation “is causing tensions and mistrust between European and US colleagues in NATO.” The source added that officials are “not communicating openly” for fear that information will reach the White House and be used in the pursuit of Greenland.
“We used to have beers together, but now it’s really odd. I have fought alongside Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is extremely disruptive in a way I never anticipated because it is so unrealistic and astonishing,” the insider said, adding that some officials felt the US had “stabbed us in the back.”
In late 2025, several media outlets reported that the UK had halted intelligence sharing with the US, which could have been used for strikes on suspected drug – smuggling vessels in the Caribbean. While US officials claimed that the boats were linked to the Venezuelan government, Caracas has strongly denied the accusations of supporting the drug trade.