Greenland: Our Next State or a Complicated Military Deal?
A 51st State or a Strategic Power Play?
By Clarissa Schuller
In modern American politics, few national security negotiations have unfolded as dramatically as the fight over Greenland. A seemingly off the cuff threat from the U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to effectively acquire Greenland quickly became a complex military deal ignored by most national media.
Why Greenland?
Greenland is located in the Arctic, positioned comfortably between North America and Europe. The island’s geographic location is prime real estate for global security, positioned along critical Arctic maritime routes and offering a crucial vantage point for monitoring air and naval activity from powers such as Russia and China. The U.S. already maintains a presence in Greenland, but is interested in strengthening surveillance and missile systems in the region. Specifically, President Trump is interested in promoting the Golden Dome missile defense system for the United States, which could require expanded missile defense positioning across North America (and speculatively, Greenland).
A 51st State?
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte to discuss Greenland in Davos, Switzerland.
President Trump had made comments about acquiring Greenland on numerous occasions, saying the US will “go as far as we have to go” to have control of the island. As an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, a Greenland deal must be agreed upon by both Denmark and Greenland.
Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, in response to President Trump’s statements, said, “We are now facing a geopolitical crisis, and if we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark… We choose NATO. We choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We choose the EU.” Nielsen’s statements reflect the ardent pushback from both Greenland and Denmark to any sort of ‘purchase’ deal from the U.S. President. (READ MORE: The Crisis in Iran: Where Do We Find Common Ground?)
At the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, President Trump stated that, “We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force where we would be, frankly, unstoppable. But I won’t do that.” Acquiring Greenland would take great force. The question remains: Was the president serious about adding a 51st state, or was the spectacle part of a larger, quieter maneuver?
The Deal and Military Plans
President Trump posted to social media that he and the NATO Secretary-General had agreed to a “Framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland.” This future deal will most likely include the desired expansion to U.S. military presence to achieve the Golden Dome plans.
President Trump has been vocal about his deal making strategy, specifically through his book The Art of The Deal. In his book, President Trump argues that negotiation must include thinking big, ambitious demands, public attention, and aggressive leverage. The proposal to acquire Greenland fits into President Trump’s negotiation framework. A seemingly insane threat of acquisition, followed by media attention, and gained leverage for a much smaller request than territorial expansion: Arctic military coordination. (READ MORE: A Roadmap To Victory)
Did President Trump get what he wanted? The answer is muddled. In many ways, the media attention to the president’s radical claims pushed Arctic security and U.S. strategic interests to the forefront of NATO’s agenda and may have expedited the process of future deals. As of today, whether the complex military deal and future Golden Dome continues, is up to the unorthodox negotiation strategies of the U.S. President.
About the Author
Clarissa Schuller is a senior at Grove City College majoring in Political Science. In addition to working for the Institute as a Marketing Fellow, Clarissa serves as the President of the undergraduate Federalist Society Chapter at GCC. She also works on the Grove City Law Journal, and serves on Orientation Board and Crimson and White Alumni Society.
In the summer of 2023, Clarissa was an intern at the Akron City Prosecutor’s Office. There, she assisted prosecutors with traffic court, case details, and administrative duties. In the summer of 2024, Clarissa had an internship at The American Policy Roundtable, where she assisted with various research and voter preparation.
Most recently, Clarissa worked as a Congressional Intern in Washington D.C. in the summer of 2025. She is hoping to return to the Hill and work as Congressional staff while pursuing higher education.
READ MORE BY CLARISSA SCHULLER: Why the Mayoral Election in NYC Gained So Much Attention: A Look at the Mayoral Structure
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer alone and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grove City College, the Institute for Faith and Freedom, or their affiliates.
Cover Image: Photo by Visit Greenland on Unsplash (Cropped)
Captioned Image 1: The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (Cropped)