Copenhagen/Oslo: The future of the NATO alliance and the global geopolitical order could be at risk following US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on NATO allies that support Denmark in its dispute with Washington over Greenland, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen warned on Sunday.
Speaking during an official visit to Norway, one of the countries also targeted by Trump’s tariff warning, Rasmussen said the standoff had far-reaching implications beyond bilateral relations.
“The global geopolitical order as we know it and NATO’s future are at stake,” Rasmussen said, stressing that pressure on allies undermines the foundations of the transatlantic alliance.
European Unity Key to Countering US Pressure
Rasmussen expressed confidence that Denmark is not isolated in the dispute and enjoys strong backing across Europe.
“I have no doubt there is strong European support,” he told reporters at a joint news conference, adding that Europe becomes more resilient when it acts together.
“Europe is stronger when we collectively show muscle,” he said, underlining the importance of unity in the face of economic and political coercion.
Greenland Dispute Escalates Tensions
The warning comes amid renewed tensions after President Trump reiterated his ambition to seize control of Greenland, a strategically vital Arctic territory that is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Trump has reportedly threatened trade retaliation against NATO members siding with Denmark, raising concerns about fractures within the military alliance.
The episode has sparked unease across European capitals, with diplomats fearing that economic pressure on allies could weaken NATO cohesion at a time of heightened global security challenges.
Concerns Over NATO’s Credibility
Analysts warn that trade threats against fellow NATO members could erode trust within the alliance and weaken its credibility, especially as Europe and the US confront growing geopolitical competition in the Arctic, Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
Rasmussen’s remarks signal growing anxiety in Europe that strategic disagreements — if handled through economic coercion — could fundamentally reshape the transatlantic relationship.