Faced with persistent pressure from the United States to negotiate its acquisition, the Government of Greenland has taken the symbolic step of issuing its first-ever public crisis preparedness brochure. Titled "Prepared for Crises — Be Self-Sufficient for Five Days," the document advises the island's 57,000 residents on stockpiling essentials like food, water, and medical supplies. Officials framed it as a prudent measure in a volatile geopolitical climate. "This document is an insurance policy," stated Self-Sufficiency Minister Peter Borg, while emphasizing, "We don't expect to have to use it". However, the subtext was clear to many Greenlanders and observers, coming directly after renewed U.S. demands for control of the autonomous Danish territory.
The catalyst for Greenland's precautionary move was U.S. President Donald Trump's address at the World Economic Forum in Davos. While he stated, "I don't have to use force. I don't want to use force. I won't use force," his accompanying rhetoric struck a more coercive tone. He demanded "immediate negotiations" for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, framing it as a "very small ask" of NATO allies for a "piece of ice". He presented the choice to allies starkly: "You can say 'yes,' and we'll be very appreciative. Or you can say 'no,' and we will remember". This approach, combining a dismissal of military action with threats of remembered consequences and potential tariffs, has been seen as an attempt at economic and diplomatic coercion.
The U.S. pressure campaign has sparked a firm and unified response from European capitals, straining the transatlantic alliance. The European Parliament suspended work on a major EU-U.S. trade deal, with the trade committee chairman stating the U.S. was "undermining the stability and predictability of EU-US trade relations" by threatening an EU member's sovereignty. Danish veterans who served alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq expressed feelings of "betrayal". Political leaders were equally firm. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared, "Britain will not yield on our principles and values about the future of Greenland under threats of tariffs". French President Emmanuel Macron called for a NATO exercise in Greenland to underscore the alliance's commitment to its current status.
A fundamental pillar of the dispute is the overwhelming opposition of the people most affected. Polls consistently show that Greenlanders themselves reject the idea of joining the United States. One recent survey found 85% of Greenlanders are against it, with only 6% in favor, a direct contradiction to Trump's claim that the island's residents "want to be with us". This sentiment is mirrored by the American public. Nearly nine in ten U.S. voters oppose taking Greenland by military force, and a majority are opposed to the acquisition effort overall, concerned it will harm NATO and relations with Europe. Critics argue the push exemplifies a disregard for both local self-determination and the strategic importance of allied unity, prioritizing a unilateral transaction over partnership.