Name: Can the EU defend Greenland in a U.S. attack?
Uploaded: 2026-01-14T15:54:50.166Z
Duration: 1 min 58 s
Description: Europe is bound by NATO and EU defense clauses to step in if Greenland is attacked by the U.S.. What are they and how far do they apply?

Europe is bound by NATO and EU defense clauses to step in if Greenland is attacked by the U.S.. What are they and how far do they apply?

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A debate has emerged regarding the European Union's ability to defend Greenland in the event of a hypothetical attack by the United States. This discussion follows public remarks by Donald Trump about buying Greenland and not ruling out the use of force, raising concerns about Greenland's defense as part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

While NATO's Article 5 typically obliges members to defend each other, the US's membership complicates the alliance's response. Some suggest the EU could invoke Article 42.7 of its treaty to assist Denmark, but Greenland's status as an autonomous territory that left the European Economic Community in 1985 creates legal uncertainties. Experts note that the EU's response would depend on strategic and political considerations, especially given potential US retaliation in trade and security.

Can the EU defend Greenland in a U.S. attack?

Can the EU defend Greenland in a US attack? As Donald Trump openly discusses buying Greenland and refuses to rule out using force, a question has surfaced. If Greenland, part of the Kingdom of Denmark, is attacked, who would defend it? Normally, you would point to NATO's Article 5, which says that members must come to each other's defence if attacked. The issue is that the US is a member, leaving NATO's role in such a crisis unclear. This has spooked European leaders. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that in the case of a US military attack, it would be the end of everything. Some though have questioned if the EU can step in and it does actually have a measure that could defend Greenland, Article 42.7 of the Treaty on the European Union. This is a promise between EU countries to help each other by all the means in their power, triggered if a member state suffers armed aggression on its territory. Here as an EU member state, Denmark would request support on Greenland's behalf, which could be military, intelligence, political or economic. But it comes with some limitations. Firstly, it's not clear whether Greenland as an autonomous Danish overseas territory is covered by EU treaties as it left the European Economic Community in 1985. I think it very much will come down to the strategic and political assessments that each individual member state will make. At the moment, the question is unsettled whether Denmark can actually rely on Article 42.7 if Greenland comes under attack from the United States or anywhere else. But if the US were to attack Greenland, the EU is still politically exposed. Experts say in the case of a US attack on Greenland, the EU's response has to balance pressure from Washington and potential retaliation, especially in terms of trade and security.

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