Greenland and NATO: Strategic Imperatives in the High North

Greenland has long been a vital strategic asset for NATO, but it gained renewed attention during the Trump administration when President Donald Trump openly expressed interest in purchasing the territory from Denmark. While the proposal was dismissed, it underscored Greenland’s growing importance in U.S. and NATO security calculations. As Arctic ice melt accelerates, opening new maritime routes and access to critical resources, the region has become a focal point for great-power competition, with both Russia and China seeking to expand their influence in the High North.

This discussion will feature Dr. Sumantra Maitra, Director of Research and Outreach at the American Ideas Institute and a leading analyst of NATO strategy, European security, and great-power politics. Dr. Maitra will examine how Greenland fits into NATO’s evolving Arctic strategy, the implications of Trump’s interest in acquiring the island, and the broader geopolitical dynamics at play, including U.S.-Denmark-Greenland relations and growing Chinese and Russian activity in the region.

The event will address key questions, including:

• What drove the Trump administration’s interest in acquiring Greenland, and what does it reveal about U.S. strategic thinking?
• How does Greenland fit into NATO’s Arctic defense posture, and what are the military implications of an expanded U.S. presence?
• How should NATO respond to China’s increasing economic and strategic interest in the Arctic?
• Does the Arctic present an opportunity or a liability for NATO’s long-term cohesion?

Join us for a timely discussion on one of the most strategically significant yet often overlooked regions in transatlantic security.