DONALD Trump has reportedly ordered his special forces chiefs to draw up plans for an invasion of Greenland.
Sources say the US president’s team – buoyed by the “stunning” capture of Nicolas Maduro – are increasingly worried that Russia or China may seize the strategically critical island before them.
Policy “hawks” in the White House, led by political adviser Stephen Miller, are reportedly egging Trump on to annex the isle before it’s too late, according to The Mail on Sunday.
Their insistence comes despite warnings from European officials that Nato would implode following any attack on the Danish territory.
According to the sources, Trump has asked the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to draft plans for an invasion.
But the joint chiefs of staff on the ground are reportedly understood to be resisting the plans – highlighting that such an invasion would be illegal and unpopular with Congress.
One source told the outlet: “They [joint chiefs] have tried to distract Trump by talking about less controversial measures, such as intercepting Russian ‘ghost’ ships – a clandestine network of hundreds of vessels operated by Moscow to evade Western sanctions – or launching a strike on Iran.”
Trump’s rhetoric on invading the country may also be a tactic to distract American voters from the US economy before midterm elections arrive, UK diplomats believe.
Washington officials have war-gamed what they call an “escalatory scenario” – a situation where Trump uses military action or “political coercion” to break Greenland away from Denmark.
A diplomatic source said the “worst-case” scenario in these exercises led to the “destruction of Nato from the inside”.
They explained: “Some European officials suspect this is the real aim of the hardline MAGA faction around Trump.
“Since Congress would not allow Trump to exit Nato, occupying Greenland could force the Europeans to abandon Nato.
“If Trump wants to end Nato, this might be the most convenient way to do it.”
As part of what they named the “Compromise Scenario”, Denmark would agree to hand over full military access to Trump – and deny Russia and China any presence.
The US already has free access to the island – but this outcome would put this practice into law.
Trump has repeatedly made it clear that he wants Greenland for the US in recent days – saying he needs the Danish island “from the standpoint of national security”.
The threat comes despite warnings from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen that any US military move on Greenland would signify the “end of the Nato alliance”.
And it comes as the White House rides off the back of Venezuelan tyrant Maduro’s capture, which Trump hailed as “one of the most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history”.
The Washington source continued: “For domestic political reasons, Trump can start with an escalatory scenario which shifts to a compromise scenario.
“European officials fear that, for Trump, the window of opportunity before the mid-terms is closing in the summer, therefore action is expected sooner rather than later.
“The Nato summit on July 7 seems like the natural timing for a compromise deal.”
They concluded: “The current concerns [about an invasion] are driven by the most extreme views coming from Stephen Miller.
On Friday, Greenland’s Prime Minister said in a defiant rebuke to Trump “we do not want to be Americans” after the US president warned he can take the island “the easy way or the hard way”.
In a joint statement with Greenland’s top politicians, Jens-Frederik Nielsen said: “We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders.”
It comes after the Don said he was “going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not” on Friday.
In the face of Trump’s insistence that Greenland is a “national security priority”, Nielsen said: “Greenland’s future must be decided by the Greenlandic people.”
Trump said the US needed the strategically important island or “Russia or China will take over”.
He said: “We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not.
“Because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland – and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbour.”
The president added: “I would like to make a deal the easy way. But if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re gonna do it the hard way.”
It follows reports that Trump is considering sending $100,000 lump sums to Greenlanders.
US officials have reportedly discussed dishing out payments of between $10,000 (£7,443) and $100,000 (£74,437) to try and woo islanders into independence.
The sensational proposal would cost the US an eye-watering $5.7billion in a bid to curry favour with locals.
It’s just one of the solutions being mulled by Washington, who are “actively” discussing a potential offer to buy the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Trump insisted that his first choice would be to purchase the island, but has made it clear that he wants the territory no matter what.
He has refused to rule out military action in the island.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told US lawmakers that the Don is looking to find a peaceful way to take the island – and has downplayed the threat of an invasion.
Four ways Trump could take Greenland
By Harvey Geh
HERE are four ways Donald Trump could take over Greenland:
- Invasion: Trump would have little issue using the world’s strongest military to annex a poorly defended target such as Greenland. Denmark may even surrender before a fight takes place to avoid the risk of a full-blown Nato collapse. But any attack could still fall victim to a string of problems, including extreme weather conditions and long supply lines.
- Coercion: The threat of military intervention itself could be enough to force Copenhagen’s hand and pass over the crucial island. But aside from looming threats, Trump could purchase Greenland directly from the Danes. Previous US administrations have tried this at least three times in the past, with the first instance dating back to 1867.
- Free Association: Washington is reportedly already working on a plan to sign a “compact of free association” with Greenland. This deal would mirror current arrangements the US has with countries like Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands. In these relationships, the US military have free rein in these territories in exchange for duty-free trade. But if such a deal were to take place, Greenland would have to cede from Denmark and gain independence first.
- Prolong the status quo: With Denmark and Trump both vying to have their own influence, Greenland could seek benefits from both without actually gaining independence or submitting to the US. If Washington settled for a bolstered military presence and mineral-mining contracts on the island, they could lay off further plans to annex it entirely.
Rubio is scheduled to meet with Danish officials next week to discuss the island’s future.
Danish politicians are now scrambling for help and have urged European counterparts to pledge military support.
France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Britain and Denmark have all rallied to support the Danish autonomous territory.
Conservative MP Rasmus Jarlov said Copenhagen should welcome allied troops “so that the price of a military invasion for the Americans would be extremely high”.
Left-wing leader Pelle Dragsted said: “We must make it clear that it would be an armed conflict.”
He warned that Trump should never be allowed to “just land a helicopter in Nuuk and raise the US flag”.
Denmark confirmed it would “shoot first and ask questions later” if Trump invaded Greenland.
The iron-clad commitment is part of Copenhagen’s military constitution – and states that soldiers must “immediately” open fire in the face of an attack.
A rule dating back to 1952 states that troops must defend against attackers without awaiting orders – with Copenhagen saying the law “remains in force”.
The US already has more than 100 military personnel permanently stationed at its Pituffik base in Greenland’s north-western tip.
The facility has been operated by the US since World War Two.
Under existing agreements with Denmark, the US has the power to bring as many troops as it wants to Greenland.
Experts have said it would be alarmingly simple for the US to make a grab for the strategically important Arctic island.
US Vice President JD Vance has warned European leaders to “take the President of the United States seriously”.
A majority of the island’s 57,000-string population want Greenland to eventually become an independent nation.
And an overwhelming 85 per cent of those polled last year rejected becoming part of the US.
Polling also shows only 7 per cent of Americans support the idea of a US military invasion of the territory.
