President-elect Donald Trump’s recent remarks about potentially using military or economic measures to seize control of Greenland have raised some eyebrows around the world.
While some view his comments as extreme, there is a longstanding consensus within the U.S. national security community that China’s and Russia’s growing influence in the Arctic is worrisome and demands immediate attention.
“I’m not going to commit to that,” Trump said on Jan. 7 when asked if he would rule out using military or economic coercion to control both Greenland and the Panama Canal.
He added that the United States needs both regions for economic and national security reasons.
For many, it’s unclear whether Trump intends to use military force or if he’s suggesting it as a negotiation tactic to change the status quo in both regions.
Understanding the context is important for the public to interpret Trump’s remarks, according to Michael Walsh, a U.S. foreign policy expert who advised President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign.
He argued that Trump’s approach—whether intentional or not—has its advantages, as it brings issues typically dealt with behind closed doors into the public eye. As a result, Americans will become more aware of national security challenges around the world.
He said that there’s a growing concern about the independence of Greenland and the Faroe Islands—two autonomous territories of Denmark.
During Trump’s first term, the State Department worked to deepen ties with both islands to counter Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic. These concerns persisted under Biden, who introduced an Arctic strategy in 2022 to counter growing competition, especially China’s “Polar Silk Road.”
“There’s not a huge daylight between the two administrations in terms of the assessment that there’s a risk in the region,” Walsh said.
Despite Denmark being a close NATO ally, the United States fears that Denmark’s influence over these islands could fade over time if they move toward independence.
Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said on Jan. 8 that Greenland may become independent, but it’s unlikely to become a U.S. state.
On Jan. 8, the government of Greenland also responded to Trump’s comments in a written statement, saying that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders” and that its future will be determined by its own people.
“The Cabinet is looking forward to building relations with President-elect Donald Trump and his administration,” the statement said.
What is causing concern in the United States is China’s growing commercial and military capabilities in the Arctic. In addition, Russian and Chinese warships are operating together more frequently in the region.
“Greenland is important because the Arctic has become important,” Gordon Chang, political commentator and China expert, said. “And China and Russia are seeking to control the Arctic.”
According to 2008 estimates from the U.S. Geological Survey, the Arctic’s vast resources include nearly 90 billion barrels of oil and 1,669 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. That represents about 22 percent of the world’s undiscovered conventional oil and natural gas.
The Arctic also has trillions of dollars worth of minerals, including silver, copper, gold, nickel, iron ore, and rare earth elements.
In addition, Greenland is home to a large U.S. military base with missile warning and space surveillance systems.
Chang disagrees, however, with Trump’s suggestion of using military force to take over Greenland, saying there is no justification for that.
He said that while the world isn’t peaceful, with Russia and China already using force, Trump’s comments could encourage more aggression globally.
Trump has made similar comments regarding the Panama Canal, expressing frustration over the growing influence of Chinese state-owned companies in its operations.
The State Department warned in 2022 that Beijing’s acquisition of technologies, facilities, and infrastructure in Latin America may have dual purposes.
In July 2022, Gen. Laura Richardson, then-head of the U.S. Southern Command, raised concerns about Chinese state-owned companies operating ports on both sides of the Panama Canal, stating that these facilities could be turned quickly toward military capabilities.
“I think we should be concerned, but this is a global problem,” she said at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. “This is the same playbook that they’ve used in Africa, Asia, Europe, it’s not new.”
Some Democrats on the Hill, however, have criticized Trump’s comments about Greenland and the Panama Canal, dismissing them as distractions.
“House Democrats believe that we are not sent to Washington to invade Greenland, rename the Gulf of Mexico, or seize the Panama Canal by force,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said during a press conference on Jan. 8.
In an interview with CNN on the same day, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) criticized Trump’s remarks, stating that they served as a distraction from his controversial nominees, including Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
