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US President Donald Trump has reportedly asked senior special forces commanders to begin preparing contingency plans for a possible invasion of Greenland, the Daily Mail reported on Sunday. The proposal has triggered strong resistance within the US military, with senior officials questioning both its legality and political feasibility.
According to the report, Trump directed the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to draft an invasion plan. However, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have pushed back, arguing that any such operation would be unlawful and lack congressional approval.
“The generals think Trump’s Greenland plan is crazy and illegal,” a diplomatic source told the Mail. “They are trying to deflect him with other major military operations. They say it’s like dealing with a five-year-old.”
Sources said senior military officials have attempted to divert Trump’s attention by proposing less controversial actions, including intercepting Russian “ghost ships” — a covert fleet used by Moscow to evade Western sanctions — or even suggesting a strike on Iran.
The report said hardline figures within Trump’s inner circle, particularly policy hawks led by adviser Stephen Miller, have grown more assertive. Emboldened by what they view as the successful operation to capture Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro, they are now pushing for swift action to secure Greenland before Russia or China expands its influence in the Arctic.
Trump’s renewed focus on Greenland is also believed to be driven by domestic political considerations. With mid-term elections approaching later this year, there are concerns that he may seek a dramatic foreign policy move to divert attention from economic pressures and the risk of Republicans losing control of Congress, the report said, citing British diplomatic sources.
Such a move could place Trump on a direct collision course with European leaders and trigger a major crisis within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato), potentially pushing the alliance to breaking point.
Diplomatic officials have reportedly conducted internal war-gaming exercises examining an “escalatory scenario” in which Trump could use military force or sustained political pressure to weaken Greenland’s ties with Denmark. A classified diplomatic cable reportedly outlines a worst-case outcome that could result in “the destruction of Nato from the inside”.
“Some European officials suspect this is the real aim of the hardline MAGA faction around Trump,” the report said. “Since Congress would not allow Trump to exit Nato, occupying Greenland could force Europeans to abandon the alliance.”
Meanwhile, political parties in Greenland issued a joint statement rejecting Trump’s pressure to seize the Danish autonomous territory. “We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danish, we want to be Greenlanders,” the leaders of five parties in parliament said, adding that the future of Greenland must be decided by its people.
The statement came hours after Trump again raised the issue, warning that the US would have to “do something” or risk Russia and China stepping in. “We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not,” Trump said, adding that Washington would not accept Moscow or Beijing as neighbours.
“I would like to make a deal the easy way, but if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way,” he said, citing increased Russian and Chinese military presence around Greenland.
Denmark has reportedly warned that its troops are under orders to “shoot first and ask questions later” if Greenland comes under attack, as concern grows in Europe over the US openly discussing possible military action against the Arctic territory.
Earlier, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected Trump’s claims that the US “needs” Greenland for security reasons, calling them unacceptable.
According to the report, Trump directed the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to draft an invasion plan. However, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have pushed back, arguing that any such operation would be unlawful and lack congressional approval.
US generals push back
“The generals think Trump’s Greenland plan is crazy and illegal,” a diplomatic source told the Mail. “They are trying to deflect him with other major military operations. They say it’s like dealing with a five-year-old.”
Sources said senior military officials have attempted to divert Trump’s attention by proposing less controversial actions, including intercepting Russian “ghost ships” — a covert fleet used by Moscow to evade Western sanctions — or even suggesting a strike on Iran.
Hawks in Trump’s inner circle
The report said hardline figures within Trump’s inner circle, particularly policy hawks led by adviser Stephen Miller, have grown more assertive. Emboldened by what they view as the successful operation to capture Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro, they are now pushing for swift action to secure Greenland before Russia or China expands its influence in the Arctic.
Domestic political calculations
Trump’s renewed focus on Greenland is also believed to be driven by domestic political considerations. With mid-term elections approaching later this year, there are concerns that he may seek a dramatic foreign policy move to divert attention from economic pressures and the risk of Republicans losing control of Congress, the report said, citing British diplomatic sources.
Risk of Nato crisis
Such a move could place Trump on a direct collision course with European leaders and trigger a major crisis within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato), potentially pushing the alliance to breaking point.
Diplomatic officials have reportedly conducted internal war-gaming exercises examining an “escalatory scenario” in which Trump could use military force or sustained political pressure to weaken Greenland’s ties with Denmark. A classified diplomatic cable reportedly outlines a worst-case outcome that could result in “the destruction of Nato from the inside”.
“Some European officials suspect this is the real aim of the hardline MAGA faction around Trump,” the report said. “Since Congress would not allow Trump to exit Nato, occupying Greenland could force Europeans to abandon the alliance.”
Greenland pushes back
Meanwhile, political parties in Greenland issued a joint statement rejecting Trump’s pressure to seize the Danish autonomous territory. “We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danish, we want to be Greenlanders,” the leaders of five parties in parliament said, adding that the future of Greenland must be decided by its people.
The statement came hours after Trump again raised the issue, warning that the US would have to “do something” or risk Russia and China stepping in. “We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not,” Trump said, adding that Washington would not accept Moscow or Beijing as neighbours.
“I would like to make a deal the easy way, but if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way,” he said, citing increased Russian and Chinese military presence around Greenland.
Denmark raises alarm
Denmark has reportedly warned that its troops are under orders to “shoot first and ask questions later” if Greenland comes under attack, as concern grows in Europe over the US openly discussing possible military action against the Arctic territory.
Earlier, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected Trump’s claims that the US “needs” Greenland for security reasons, calling them unacceptable.
