Iran: The Latest Trump wants to conquer Greenland. This is how Europe can stop him
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Jan 16, 2026 Rachel Ellehuus, Director General of the Royal United Services Institute and former senior US official at NATO, shares insights on Trump’s serious ambitions regarding Greenland. She explains why Greenland’s geopolitical importance is underestimated, discussing missile defense and critical minerals. The podcast delves into the European response, the security implications for NATO, and the economic interests at play. Ellehuus highlights Denmark's firm stance against US claims and suggests strategies for Europe to safeguard its values in this pivotal moment.
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Denmark Is Funding Greenland's Security
- Denmark already invests heavily in Arctic defence and surveillance, including fighters and satellites.
- Ellehuus points to Danish 2025 pledges as evidence the security gap claim is weak.
Resources Matter, But Aren't The Whole Story
- Economic motives include Greenland's rare earths and critical minerals but extraction is hard and offers exist to US firms.
- Ellehuus suggests resource grabs don't fully explain persistent US interest.
A Strategic Prestige Play
- Ellehuus links the push for Greenland to grander geopolitical ambitions, likening it to a modern expansionist impulse.
- She traces Trump's Greenland fixation back to 2019 and frames it as persistent, not purely practical.