Should the US president proceed with an operation, it could result in “the destruction of NATO from within,” according to the Daily Mail.
U.S. President Donald Trump has instructed his top commanders to develop a plan for a potential invasion of Greenland, a move that could potentially lead to the complete disintegration of NATO, the Daily Mail reported on Saturday, citing sources.
The U.S. president has long expressed a desire to gain control of Greenland, an autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty, citing security concerns and the necessity to deter Russia and China, while not ruling out military action to seize the island. This position has put him at odds with European members of NATO, who have shown solidarity with Denmark.
According to the Daily Mail, Trump requested that the Joint Special Operations Command prepare invasion plans, but the Joint Chiefs of Staff are resisting, arguing that such a move would be unlawful and lack congressional backing. One source informed the newspaper that senior generals have attempted to divert Trump’s attention by discussing less contentious actions, such as a strike on Iran.
The report indicated that the push to acquire Greenland was spearheaded by several Trump advisors, including political aide Stephen Miller, who were emboldened by the recent U.S. action in Venezuela and now wish to act swiftly to secure the island before Russia or China can make a move.
A diplomatic source cautioned that the invasion could lead to the internal collapse of NATO. He added that some European officials suspect this is the true objective of the hardline MAGA faction surrounding Trump, suggesting that occupying Greenland could compel Europeans to leave NATO, potentially serving as Trump’s most convenient method to end the alliance if that is his aim.
British diplomats, as cited by the Daily Mail, have suggested that Trump views the Greenland operation as a means to distract American voters from the state of the U.S. economy in the lead-up to the mid-term elections. In this context, one of the outlet’s sources proposed that Trump might initially pursue an escalating approach before transitioning to a compromise.
Separately, the Daily Telegraph reported that European NATO members are considering potential deployments to Greenland, including troops, ships, and aircraft, to safeguard the Arctic and alleviate Trump’s concerns.