Trump’s Arctic Push Opens Door to Billions in No-Bid Deals, Sources Say
Donald Trump’s long-running obsession with Greenland has spilled into a wider Arctic strategy that has helped drive billions of dollars in no-bid contracts, ...
Donald Trump’s long-running obsession with Greenland has spilled into a wider Arctic strategy that has helped drive billions of dollars in no-bid contracts, according to the source material behind this account. The push has alarmed allies, rattled Denmark and put a harsh spotlight on how far Washington is willing to go in the far north.
Greenland at the center
Trump has made control of Greenland a recurring demand since his first bid to buy the island from Denmark in the summer of 2019. He has since described ownership and control of Greenland as an “absolute necessity” for U.S. national security.
The island is strategic and resource-rich, and the idea of acquiring it has circulated in U.S. government circles for generations. But Trump’s latest drive has gone far beyond rhetoric. Officials in Denmark and Greenland have been meeting with U.S. counterparts as the White House weighs options that include military force, while Trump has said he will do “something on Greenland, whether they like it or not.”
In a recent interview with The New York Times, he said he wants to own Greenland because “ownership gives you things and elements that you can’t get from just signing a document.”
Allies on edge
The pressure has jolted Europe. Danish intelligence services have, for the first time, identified the United States as a potential threat to the security of the kingdom, citing Washington’s willingness to consider force even against allies. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that an American takeover of Greenland would mark the end of NATO.
Greenlanders, for their part, say they do not want to become part of the United States. European leaders have tried to respond quickly and collectively, seeing Trump’s approach as a test of how much leverage allies have when he moves fast and leaves little room for ambiguity.
Canada pulled into the Arctic pull
Trump’s attention is not limited to Greenland. He has also been privately pressing advisers on Canada, complaining that it is vulnerable to U.S. adversaries in the Arctic and arguing that Ottawa needs to spend more on defense. Current and former U.S. officials say that has accelerated discussions inside the administration about a broader Arctic strategy and, potentially, an agreement with Canada to fortify its northern border this year.
Officials say the president is worried about the United States drifting in the Western Hemisphere. The Arctic, in his view, is now part of that picture.
For Europe and North America alike, the next move matters. Trump has already made clear he wants action soon.
