How the US could take over Greenland and the potential challenges

The United States is making a push to take control of Greenland, a move that has drawn criticism from Denmark and the island's residents. President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated his desire for the US to own the island, citing strategic security interests and business opportunities.

However, the prospects for the US taking control of Greenland through military force are murky at best. NATO would likely be plunged into crisis if the US were to forcibly take control of the island, and it's unclear how the remaining members of the alliance would respond.

Instead, officials from the US, Denmark, and Greenland are exploring alternative options, including signing bilateral agreements that would give the US a greater say in security matters on the island. One potential option is for the US to gain veto power over security decisions made by the Greenlandic government, similar to the Compact of Free Association with Pacific island nations.

However, Greenlanders have repeatedly expressed their desire for independence and do not want to become part of the US. Influence operations aimed at persuading them to join the US are unlikely to succeed, given the small size of the community and the language barrier.

Even if the US were to take control of Greenland, it would likely come with a significant cost. The island's residents currently enjoy Danish citizenship and access to the welfare system, which would need to be replicated in order to provide the same level of support for the new American residents.

In the end, it seems unlikely that Denmark will agree to update the defense agreement with a "gold-plated signature," as suggested by expert Ulrik Pram Gad. The US president is likely to continue using Greenland as a distraction from domestic problems, and the island remains a contentious issue in US-Denmark relations.

The future of Greenland's relationship with the US remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: any attempt to take control of the island through military force would be met with significant opposition from Denmark and potentially other NATO allies.

omg this is so messed up america thinks it can just take over greenland like that? newsflash: danish ppl already care about their own nation's sovereignty, let alone some americans who think they're entitled to it...the veto power thing sounds super fishy tho, what's the real motive here?

and btw if the us tries to force anything on denmark, nato is gonna be all over this and we can't forget about the welfare system, america would need to seriously step up their game if they wanna just take over a whole island...it's not that easy

This Greenland thingy is soooo confusing ... I mean, why does the US wanna own it tho? Like, what's in it for them? They're already got like a gazillion countries to deal with . And Denmark's all upset cuz they're like, "Hey, that's our territory!" I get it, they do wanna keep Greenland as part of the EU and stuff . But the US is all, "Nah, we should be in charge" ... and now they're trying to sign these bilateral agreements ? Like, what's next? The moon? Who knows, maybe this'll just blow over like a Twitter trend and everyone will forget about it . One thing's for sure tho: Greenlanders don't wanna be American , they're all about that independence life !

So, I'm not sure what's going on here, but it seems like the US is trying to muscle in on Greenland's independence. Like, for real? The Danes are already upset about it, and the Greenlanders aren't having it either. They want to be their own nation, with their own government and everything.

I get that the US might think it's got some strategic security interests or whatever, but does that mean they have the right to just take over? It doesn't seem like a good idea to me. NATO would probably freak out if the US tried to force control of the island, and even if they did manage to muscle in, what would they actually do with it?

It's not like Greenland is some tiny, defenseless speck on the map, either. The people there have Danish citizenship and access to all sorts of benefits – welfare, healthcare, the works. So if the US was gonna take over, they'd basically be giving up a bunch of good stuff.

I think we can both agree that this whole thing is just a big mess waiting to happen.

I'm not sure what's more concerning - the idea of a superpower like the US trying to take control of another country or the fact that it's happening in our lifetime . It's like they think we're not smart enough to figure out who's behind this move. Greenlanders are still trying to establish themselves as an independent nation, and yet the US is pushing for a role that could undermine their sovereignty.

I'm also worried about the welfare implications if the US were to take control. Those Danish citizenship benefits aren't just a nicety - they're a lifeline for many people on the island. How would they be replicated in a way that's fair and equitable? It's not like we can just wave a magic wand and make everything okay .

And let's be real, this whole thing is about politics and power struggles . The US president is using Greenland as a distraction from his own problems - it's a classic move to shift attention away from the real issues at hand. I just hope Denmark sticks firm on this one .

"Greenland's got some serious boundaries, can't nobody just barge in "

US trying to muscle in on Greenland? Not a good look for them, considering Denmark & the islanders are all like "no thanks" . Trying to sign bilateral agreements is one thing, but it's not gonna fly if Greenland doesn't wanna be part of the party .

Denmark's not having it either, and NATO's got more important things to worry about than some island in the middle of nowhere . Can you imagine the drama if the US tried to take control by force? Not pretty.

The real winners here are probably the Greenlanders, who get to keep their Danish citizenship & welfare system . The US would have to put a lot into it to make this work, and even then, there's no guarantee it'd be worth it .

I'm low-key shocked that the US is even considering taking control of Greenland ‍. I mean, it's already a pretty cool place, all about being green and sustainable and stuff . But seriously, have they thought through the whole "Greenlanders want independence" thing? Like, isn't that a big part of their identity? It just feels like another example of the US trying to exert its influence over everyone else in the world... which is just not cool .

And can you imagine if it actually happened? I think the Greenlandic government would be all like "uh no thanks" and then Denmark would be all like "hold up, we've got a defense agreement here ". It's just too complicated for the US to navigate. Maybe they should focus on more pressing issues... like, have you seen those new virtual reality headsets? ‍

I'm not buying this "strategic security interests" thing. It sounds like a classic case of the US trying to expand its influence without actually putting in the effort to understand what's really going on. I mean, have they even talked to the Greenlanders themselves? They're not just gonna roll over and let the US take control just because it's convenient for them.

And let's be real, this is all about Trump getting his ego stroked. Newsflash, Donald: taking over a tiny island in the middle of nowhere isn't gonna make you popular with anyone except maybe your base. And even then, it'll likely just create more problems than it solves.

Plus, have they thought about the cost? I mean, we're talking about a whole welfare system and all that jazz. It's not like the US is exactly swimming in cash right now. This is just another example of the US trying to solve its own problems by dumping them on someone else. Not cool, guys.

idk why trump wants greeland so bad, like whats in it for us? he's just using it as a distraction from his own problems but seriously, have u seen the cost of moving ppl to greeland? its gonna be huge and theres this thing about danish citizenship... i feel bad for the ppl livin there, they wanna stay independent

It's like they say - you can't control what others want, only what you're willing to fight for . The US has a strong interest in Greenland but the Greenlanders have made it clear they don't want that life. It's time to respect their wishes and stop throwing good money after bad .

Think of this like a family meeting - if everyone doesn't want something, then maybe you shouldn't push for it . The US needs to focus on its own problems instead of trying to take control of someone else's backyard . Let the Greenlanders decide their own future and stop worrying about losing face .

And let's be real - if the US can't win over the hearts and minds of the people, it's hard to expect them to give up their independence . It's time for a new approach, one that prioritizes understanding and cooperation instead of force and control .

I gotta say, this whole Greenland thing is giving me vibes like a bad 80s action movie - all hot air and no actual substance . Like, Trump's just trying to use Greenland as some kind of distraction from his own problems, but the reality is that it's not gonna work out. I mean, come on, do we really think Greenlanders are just gonna roll over and let us take control? They're not stupid, folks!

And what's with all these alternative options being thrown around? Bilateral agreements this, veto power that... it's just a bunch of words on paper. At the end of the day, we're still talking about some small island in the middle of nowhere and how to control its fate. Can't we just let Greenlanders make their own decisions for once?

And don't even get me started on the cost factor. I mean, have you seen the prices of living in the States lately? We're not exactly known for our generosity when it comes to welcoming new citizens with open arms... or a functioning welfare system, for that matter.

This whole US-Greenland situation is just a huge distraction from actual problems . Trump's obsession with owning Greenland seems like a power play, but the reality is that the US doesn't have a clear plan for what it would even do with the island if it took control . And let's not forget about the language barrier and small community - influence operations are just gonna fall flat . Plus, Denmark isn't going to agree to any deal that compromises their sovereignty or makes Greenland a US territory . It's all just a bunch of hot air . The US should focus on fixing its own issues instead of trying to flex its muscles over a tiny island in the Arctic .

it seems like the US just wants a piece of Greenland ️, but they're not thinking about how that'll affect the actual people living there... I mean, have they considered the language barrier ? and what's with this veto power idea? does anyone really think the Greenlanders will be okay with some US president making decisions for them? also, isn't this just a distraction from all those domestic problems? like, can't they focus on fixing their own stuff instead of trying to expand their empire?

So like... I think this whole US push for Greenland thing is super sketchy . They're trying to muscle in on a country that's already got its own identity and wants to stay independent. Like, what's the point of taking control if you can't even provide better support than Denmark?

And have you seen those maps of the possible agreements they're talking about? It looks like some wonky spaghetti . Veto power over security decisions is not gonna fly with Greenlanders who are already wary of US influence.

I'm also thinking, if the US is really so keen on having a say in Greenland's security matters, why don't they just have a conversation with them instead of trying to strong-arm them? It's like they're treating Greenland like some kind of pawn in a game, rather than respecting its autonomy.

Plus, what about all those people who are gonna lose their Danish citizenship and benefits if the US takes over? That's not exactly gonna make things easier for everyone involved.

Anyway, it looks like this is one more case where diplomacy is being thrown out the window in favor of some kind of power play . Let's hope someone with better ideas comes along and can sort this mess out!

I'm not convinced that the US will actually follow through on its plans to take control of Greenland . The idea that they'd just swoop in and try to muscle the island into submission seems far-fetched, especially given the complexities of international relations and the potential backlash from Denmark and other NATO members. It's more likely that we'll see a continued game of diplomatic cat-and-mouse, with the US trying to use Greenland as a bargaining chip to distract from their domestic issues . The fact that the Greenlanders have already expressed their desire for independence suggests that they're not going to be easily swayed by influence operations or promises of security benefits. It's almost as if the US is using Greenland as a proxy to test the waters, so to speak, and see how far it can push Denmark before being met with resistance .

[Image of a cartoon seal with a "no" sticker on it]

[An image of Donald Trump trying to take a selfie, but his face keeps falling off]

[A GIF of Greenland's landscape with a big X marked through it]

US wants Greenland like that's gonna happen They should focus on fixing their own mess instead of trying to grab someone else's. Greenlanders aren't having it, can't blame 'em! NATO would've already kicked US out if they tried military takeover

I dont think the US should just take over Greenland like that . I mean, it's a sovereign nation with its own people who want their independence. The US has got enough problems on its hands without trying to expand its territory like that.

And what about the cost? Like, how are they going to replicate the Danish welfare system and stuff for all these new American residents? It seems like a recipe for disaster.

I also think it's pretty suspicious that the US is using Greenland as some kinda distraction from their own problems . If Trump wants to focus on something, why not just leave Greenland alone?

NATO would definitely be all over this if the US tried to take control of the island by force . The whole alliance thing would go up in flames.

I'm curious to see how this whole thing plays out, but I've got my doubts

This whole US Greenland thing is just weird... I mean, why do they even want it? Is there some secret underwater treasure or something? Just imagine if they tried to take over the island by force - can you picture a bunch of American Marines showing up on the frozen tundra and being like "Hey, we're in charge now"? It's hard to see how that would go down well with Denmark or Greenlanders themselves. They seem pretty set against the idea of becoming part of the US. Plus, have they thought about how they'd make it work? Like, they'd need to replicate all these social services and stuff, which is just a lot of work. I don't see this ending well for anyone...