Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has publicly rebuffed recent assertions by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Greenland, specifically his suggestion of potentially utilizing military force to assert U.S. control over the territory. Speaking to “Bild am Sonntag”, Wadephul acknowledged the escalating geopolitical importance of the Arctic region, emphasizing the growing convergence of Russian and Chinese interests that often conflict with those of European nations.
Ahead of a planned visit to Washington, Wadephul announced intentions to discuss a coordinated NATO strategy with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, underlining a firm commitment to Danish and Greenlandic sovereignty. “It is unequivocally the domain of Greenland and Denmark to determine matters of territory and sovereignty pertaining to Greenland” Wadephul stated, effectively rejecting any implication of U.S. entitlement.
The SPD parliamentary group, however, is advocating for a more assertive European response to Trump’s rhetoric. Foreign policy spokesperson Adis Ahmetovic condemned Trump’s actions, arguing that Europe must resist intimidation and establish a clear “stop sign” regarding Greenland. He drew a comparison to Brazilian President Lula’s recent success in leveraging trade sanctions to compel concessions from Trump, suggesting a similar confrontational approach could be beneficial for European leverage.
Adding a layer of complexity, Jürgen Hardt, the foreign policy spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, characterized Trump’s claims as “presumptuous and counter to U.S. interests”. He highlighted the damage Trump’s statements are inflicting not only on transatlantic alliances but also on segments within the U.S. Congress itself.
Hardt further proposed the deployment of German Bundeswehr forces within the vicinity of Greenland, framing it as a necessary NATO-wide endeavor. He argued that increased presence in the Arctic is a broadly accepted NATO objective, welcomed by both Danish and Greenlandic authorities, as well as other allies. He questioned the apparent contradiction in Trump’s calls for increased burden-sharing within NATO, while simultaneously seeming to consider Arctic security solely a U.S. responsibility – a framing that would, according to Hardt, only serve to alleviate pressure on U.S. forces. The suggestion implicitly challenges the current NATO framework and raises questions about future alliance dynamics should Trump regain power.