Paweł Markiewicz, director of the Washington office of the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM), said military takeover or outright purchase of the island is unlikely. However, “the Americans may seek to encourage Greenland to declare independence,” he told Polish Press Agency (PAP)’s Studio program.
That scenario could pave the way for a Compact of Free Association — a status similar to that of Pacific nations like Palau and Micronesia, which allows for close U.S. oversight in exchange for economic and security guarantees.
Markiewicz noted that Greenland has emerged as a high priority for the current U.S. administration. “The National Security Strategy published by the White House in December clearly indicated that ensuring the security of the Western Hemisphere is a top priority,” he said.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt recently confirmed that various options are being considered, including military force. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that President Donald Trump’s goal is to acquire the island through purchase.
According to Markiewicz, Trump’s statements about military action are likely meant as “tactical pressure” to bring Denmark to the negotiating table.
He also suggested the U.S. may seek European backing by tying Greenland to broader geopolitical stakes. “I would expect rhetoric from the Trump administration along the lines of: ‘We can help you in Europe, for example with security guarantees for Ukraine, but what happens in our own backyard is our business,’” Markiewicz said.
Even without formal sovereignty, the U.S. could easily expand its military footprint on the island, where it already operates Pituffik Air Base.
Markiewicz added that the U.S. wants to control critical natural resources in the Western Hemisphere — including oil, gas, and rare earth elements — to compete more effectively with Russia and China.
Greenland is believed to hold the world’s second-largest deposits of rare earth metals — estimated at 38.5 million tons, or roughly 25 to 30 percent of global reserves — which are essential to defense technologies and advanced electronics.
(jh)
Source: PAP