Senator Warns Greenland Annexation Talk Could Shatter Western Alliance

A senior U.S. senator has warned that any attempt by the United States to annex Greenland would effectively spell the end of NATO, escalating tensions with key allies and destabilizing the transatlantic security order.

Chris Murphy, a Democratic senator and prominent voice on foreign policy, said that even entertaining the idea of taking control of Greenland against the will of Denmark and the island’s population would fundamentally undermine the trust that underpins the military alliance. He argued that NATO is built on mutual defense and respect for sovereignty, principles that would be impossible to uphold under such a scenario.

Murphy’s remarks come amid renewed debate sparked by comments from former President Donald Trump and his allies about Greenland’s strategic importance. The Arctic territory, which is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark, has gained increasing attention due to its location, natural resources, and growing geopolitical competition in the region.

The senator said that forcing the issue would place the United States in direct conflict with a NATO ally, creating a crisis the alliance was never designed to survive. He warned that European partners would see such a move as an act of aggression, not strategy, potentially leading to a collapse of collective defense commitments.

Danish officials and Greenlandic leaders have repeatedly stated that the island is not for sale and that its future will be decided by its own people. Murphy emphasized that ignoring those positions would damage U.S. credibility worldwide and hand strategic advantages to rival powers eager to exploit divisions among Western nations.

The comments highlight growing concern in Washington and Europe about the impact of hardline rhetoric on alliances formed after World War II. As Arctic competition intensifies, Murphy argued that cooperation with allies — not coercion — remains the only sustainable path for maintaining regional stability and global security.

Author: M.J