British diplomats express the opinion that Trump is seeking to distract voters from the economic situation in the U.S. ahead of the midterm elections for Congress. They believe that such an initiative could significantly worsen relations with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and lead to a rift in NATO.
Despite Trump's directive, the U.S. military command is protesting, pointing to the legal rigidity of such an operation and the lack of support in Congress. One source reported that the military is trying to redirect the president's attention to less controversial issues, such as intercepting Russian vessels or possible actions against Iran.
According to diplomats, scenarios are being considered in which the U.S. could use military pressure or political measures to weaken Greenland's ties with Denmark. One diplomatic document describes a "worst-case scenario" that could threaten the integrity of NATO.
Some European officials suspect that radical Trump supporters are seeking to create a rift in the alliance. The document notes that since Congress will not allow the U.S. to withdraw from NATO, the capture of Greenland could prompt European countries to consider leaving the alliance.
As a more constructive option, Denmark could grant the U.S. full military access to Greenland, which would help avoid conflicts with Russia and China and lend legitimacy to Washington's actions. Diplomats express concerns that opportunities for reaching agreements may close as early as this summer, and active measures could follow soon, possibly at the NATO summit on July 7.
According to sources, American generals consider Trump's plan for Greenland to be "mad and illegal," and are therefore trying to distract the president with other important military initiatives.
