Europeans appear to be considering countermeasures if Trump uses military force to gain control of Greenland. While few consider a US-Europe military confrontation over Greenland likely, the discussion has shifted to other forms of pressure: from trade and defense procurement to – in the most sensitive scenario – restricting or even withdrawing American military presence from Europe. Five European officials and diplomats confirmed to Politico that the issue is being discussed privately, away from official EU and NATO tables. As they say, the basic question is simple but explosive: why should the US continue to enjoy full access to European bases, naval infrastructure and intelligence services if they attempt to seize sovereign territory of a NATO member state like Denmark? “Discussions continue on how we could apply pressure and say: ‘You need us, and if you proceed with this, there will be retaliation,'” a European diplomat said. As he added, “but no one wants to say it publicly.”
European warnings to Trump over Greenland
The clearest political warning came from Emmanuel Macron. “We do not underestimate the statements about Greenland,” he told his ministers. “If the sovereignty of a European and allied state is harmed, the consequences will be unprecedented. France is monitoring the situation with utmost attention and will act in full solidarity with Denmark.” Meanwhile, Copenhagen is seeking a compromise with the Trump administration over Greenland’s future. However, after recent talks with Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen acknowledged the deadlock: “The president insists on this desire to conquer Greenland. And therefore we have a fundamental disagreement.”
“Absolutely essential for US readiness and strategic reach are the bases in Europe”
Beyond the above, it’s worth emphasizing that the US currently maintains dozens of permanent and semi-permanent military installations in Europe, with thousands of troops and critical infrastructure. These are bases that allow Washington to project power in the Middle East and Africa and support NATO operations. Ben Hodges, former commander of US forces in Europe, emphasizes that these bases are “absolutely essential for US readiness and global strategic reach.” Especially Ramstein base in Germany, as he says, serves as a “pivotal launching point for operations in the Middle East and Africa,” and losing it would have “catastrophic consequences.” He notes that a rupture would mean the US losing about “half” of its intelligence-sharing capabilities, while Europe could also threaten to halt purchases of American weapons systems. “Europe can save NATO and the transatlantic relationship if it stands up and doesn’t behave like a taken-for-granted and passive partner,” he notes.
Finally, it’s noted that despite the pressure scenarios, many European officials admit that the Old Continent is not yet ready – psychologically and politically – for such an escalation. A NATO official warns that using bases as a bargaining chip “would cause mutual damage”: Europe would lose critical security guarantees and the US its most valuable advanced stronghold.
