The Tactics Institute for Security and Peace strongly condemns recent statements by US President-elect Donald Trump, who threatens to use military force to seize Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark and a NATO ally. An immediate halt in such provocations, as the institute states, is due to violations of international law, undermining the solidity of NATO and peace within the volatile Arctic region.

Remarks from president-elect Trump that Denmark should give Greenland to the United States “to protect the free world,” and economic sanctions, if it doesn’t, mark a dangerous escalation in rhetoric. The strategic location of Greenland in the Arctic makes it an important site for critical rare earth minerals and the Pituffik Space Base, the northernmost military outpost of the United States.

In this context, the remarks came while global competition in the Arctic is accelerating amid melting ice, unlocking new trade routes, energy reserves and strategic opportunities. It has strategic importance both for Europe and North America, making it a very critical player in global security. At the same time, what Trump may put into place risks destabilising the region, which creates a potential geopolitical crisis involving Russia and China, which are increasingly looking to secure influence in the Arctic.

The implications of military action against Greenland are severe. Under the NATO treaty, an attack on a member state or its territories would obligate the alliance, including the United States, to respond collectively. Moreover, Denmark, being an EU member state, could invoke Article 42(7) of the EU Treaty, obligating other EU nations to defend it. Such a situation will truly heighten tensions in NATO and the EU and truly heighten attacks on global security architectures that have kept such threats at bay, including Russian aggression in Ukraine.

The Tactics Institute requires that President-elect Trump immediately desist from all military and economic coercion threats to Greenland and Denmark. Respect the sovereignty of Denmark and the autonomy of Greenland, enshrined under international law. Act diplomatically toward Denmark, its NATO allies, and the EU to address concerns for the US within the Arctic but not using any form of aggression.

All these actions by the US flout international principles, including those of the UN Charter, which prohibits an attack on a sovereign state using force. They also demolish trust within NATO, creating cracks through which adversaries like Russia can exploit for their benefit. Greenland’s independence movement, although growing in importance, is a matter for its people to determine independently without interference.

All attempts to use US influence in this process would only increase tensions and destabilise the region further. The Tactics Institute urges President-elect Trump to drop all threats against Greenland and Denmark immediately, respect international laws, and focus on diplomacy to ensure regional and global peace.