Key Takeaways

• Top advisers have floated a Greenland takeover as a real option.
• Eighty-five percent of Greenlanders oppose any US claim.
• Greenland’s ice sheet can raise seas by 23 feet if it melts.
• Melting ice may disrupt ocean currents and global climate.
• Seizing Greenland would damage NATO and global alliances.

When talk of a Greenland takeover moved from fantasy to serious debate, many people felt alarmed. In recent interviews, top US advisers and the president himself said force could secure Greenland. Yet Greenland lies under Danish rule, and its people mostly want to stay that way. More importantly, the world faces a far bigger threat from Greenland’s melting ice.

The Push for a Greenland Takeover

On one news show, a senior adviser said, “Greenland should be part of the US. By what right does Denmark rule it?” He added, “Force is on the table.” On Air Force One, the president echoed this view. He claimed Greenland was full of Russian and Chinese ships and that Europe wants America to take it. Yet no evidence supports those claims. European leaders immediately rejected any US takeover plan.

Moreover, Denmark treats Greenland much like the US treats Alaska. Over decades, Denmark has let Greenlanders make more choices for themselves. In fact, Greenlanders now manage local schools, health care, and natural resources.

Greenlanders in Charge

Greenlanders have strong self-rule. Most are Inuit, and they have shaped their own laws. For instance, civil partnerships for gay couples began in 1996. Gay marriage followed in 2016 by a 28-0 vote. Laws allowing gender changes date back to 1976.

In fact, a January poll found that 85 percent of Greenlanders oppose US control. So the idea that they “want to be with us” is simply not true. Greenlanders value their own culture and decision-making power.

Why Trump Wants Greenland

Still, the idea of a Greenland takeover did not die. Some leaders view territory as a sign of power. They see Greenland’s minerals and oil under its icy surface. Above all, they focus on the massive ice sheet that covers most of the island.

They even talk of Greenland as if it were a vassal state. Yet modern nations do not claim neighbors by force. Such a move would breach NATO trust and break alliances with Europe.

The Power of Greenland’s Ice

Actually, Greenland’s true treasure is its ice. It holds enough water to raise sea levels by 23 feet if it melts completely. I have walked on that ice sheet, climbing glaciers until the sea slipped away. I helped two poets stand atop that white world in 2018. They read a powerful poem called “Rise: From One Island to Another.”

That glacier once looked like an eagle. Jason Box, a climate scientist, named it Eagle Glacier. Now the ice has melted so much that its wings and head are gone. We watched massive chunks of ice fall into the water, each one nudging sea levels higher.

Melting Ice and Ocean Currents

Besides flood risk, Greenland’s meltwater may disrupt major ocean currents. These currents bring warm water north and help balance global climates. If they slow down, Europe could face a deep freeze even as the tropics grow hotter. At the same time, melting ice would push seas higher along the US southeast coast.

To put it in perspective, a single foot of sea-level rise can send water nearly 90 feet inland on a gentle shoreline slope. Cities like Miami and New York could face regular flooding.

Greenland’s Climate Leadership

In fact, Greenland has shown it cares about the planet. In 2021, its government banned all new oil drilling. It called the move “a natural step” because the island takes the climate crisis seriously. Today, more than two thirds of Greenland’s electricity comes from hydro power.

I met local activists planting trees near a former US air base to absorb carbon dioxide. I also sampled beer at a small brewery in a town named Saqqannguaq. They use pure ice-cap water, free of toxins and microplastics. Their IPA tasted crisp and clean—an unexpected reminder of how connected we all are.

The Stakes and Global Unity

A Greenland takeover would break up NATO and set a dangerous precedent. Other powers might feel free to grab territory by force. Yet the real battle we face is not over land. It is over ice. Greenland’s melt threatens every coast on Earth.

We can only meet that threat by working together. Poets from the Marshall Islands and Greenland have urged the world to act. They remind us that SUVs, air conditioners, and oil-slicked dreams cannot save us. Instead, we must rise to protect our shared home.

In the end, Greenland’s ice matters far more than any land grab. The future of global climate hangs in the balance. We must focus on reducing emissions, preserving ice, and uniting nations to fight sea-level rise. Only then can we prevent a real Greenland takeover—the takeover of our planet by climate change.

Frequently Asked Questions

How likely is a US invasion of Greenland?

Despite public talk, a US invasion of Greenland remains very unlikely. European and Danish leaders have firmly rejected any takeover plan.

What role does Greenland play in global climate?

Greenland’s ice sheet holds enough water to raise sea levels by 23 feet. Its meltwater could disrupt ocean currents and change world weather patterns.

How do Greenlanders view US efforts to claim their land?

Most Greenlanders strongly oppose any US control. A recent poll found 85 percent against a US takeover. They value self-rule and local decision making.

What steps has Greenland taken to fight climate change?

Greenland banned new oil drilling in 2021 and gets over two thirds of its power from hydroelectric plants. The island works on tree planting and renewable energy projects.