3 February 2025

The United States and Greenland

Denmark's control of Greenland is not what is alarming the United States. Rather, the potential for Greenland's independence is what concerns Washington, as there are fears that an independent Greenland would allow China or Russia to gain a foothold on that strategically-located island.

This is similar to the situation among many Pacific island countries, where China has managed to gain significant influence in recent years, a development that has threatened the US' strategic position in the Pacific Ocean. As such, there is little chance that the United States will allow Greenland to pursue foreign ties that are not in US strategic interests.