I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace ... Denmark cannot protect that land [Greenland] from Russia or China ... Decisions must be forged through consensus among 27 states with differing threat perceptions, economic exposures and political cultures. [ Greenland crisis: Advocates for caution may come under pressure at key EU summitOpens in new window ]There is also direct strategic leverage vis-a-vis the United States. European states collectively hold over $3.5 trillion (€3 trillion) in US sovereign debt, accounting for roughly 40 per cent of all foreign-held US Treasury securities. Trump’s explicit linkage of Greenland to punitive tariffs against European states places the current crisis squarely within the ACI’s intended scope.

Source: The Irish Times January 20, 2026 22:01 UTC