January 2026, the prospect of the
"seizing"
from
—a founding NATO ally—is being described by international leaders and legal experts as a move that would effectively destroy the NATO alliance.While the Trump administration has stated that "utilizing the U.S. military is always an option" to acquire the territory, there is no legal mechanism for a member to forcibly take land from another within the treaty's framework.
Consequences for NATO and its Members
- The End of the Alliance: Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated on January 6, 2026, that a U.S. takeover of Greenland would mean "everything stops," including the security provided by NATO since WWII.
- Fractured Collective Defense: While NATO’s Article 5 considers an attack on one as an attack on all, it cannot be effectively invoked against the U.S. because the North Atlantic Council requires unanimous agreement for a collective response. As the aggressor, the U.S. would veto any such decision.
- Alternative Alliances: In response to U.S. threats, leaders from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain issued a joint statement on January 6, 2026, reaffirming that Greenland "belongs to its people" and that they would defend the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- EU Mutual Defense: Denmark could potentially invoke the European Union’s Article 42.7 (Mutual Defense Clause), which requires EU members to provide aid and assistance "by all the means in their power" if another member is the victim of armed aggression
