Observers at The Economist argue that if the United States tries to seize Greenland by force, European governments have several powerful levers they can use against Washington. In their view, the European Union could respond with sanctions, scrap the August 2025 trade agreement and target major American corporations.

The magazine singles out US military infrastructure in Europe as a key pressure point. Commentators note that without the Ramstein base in Germany and other facilities, it would be extremely difficult for Washington to sustain operations and project power in Africa and the Middle East. As an illustration, The Economist recalls the seizure of a Venezuelan tanker on 7 January this year, where British bases played a central role.

Another weak spot for the United States, the authors write, is Arctic logistics. Effective control of threats in the region, they stress, requires coordination with Greenland, Iceland, Great Britain and Norway. Without cooperation with these countries, US capabilities in the Arctic would be severely constrained.

The publication also argues that a forceful takeover of Greenland would erode trust in Article 5 of the NATO Charter, which enshrines the principle of collective defence. The authors remind readers that in the entire history of the alliance this article has been invoked only once — after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.

They recall that in early January Donald Trump described Greenland as «absolutely essential» for the United States. Following these remarks, European countries began sending military contingents to the island to take part in the operation «Arctic Resilience». Troops from Denmark, Germany, France and other EU states have already arrived there.

European leaders have also sharply criticised Trump’s statements. European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa warned that such threats undermine confidence in the transatlantic partnership.