Greenland meltdown: what does Trump’s quest mean for the global order and China?

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 2 min read 100% complete by Shi JiangtaoJanuary 21, 2026 at 11:00 PM

AI Summary

short article 2 min

Donald Trump's pursuit of acquiring Greenland from Denmark has escalated into a diplomatic crisis, potentially destabilizing transatlantic relations. Trump has not ruled out military intervention and has threatened tariffs to pressure Denmark into selling the territory. Greenland's Prime Minister has stated that the island's population and authorities need to start preparing for a possible military invasion. Greenland holds significant reserves of rare earth minerals, vital for various technologies, making it strategically important to the US and its G7 partners seeking to reduce reliance on China. Overlooking key North Atlantic and Arctic shipping lanes, Greenland's importance has grown as Washington and its G7 partners have sought to reduce their dependence on China’s dominance in processing critical minerals.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Washington ×240% North America 40% Jens-Frederik Nielsen 40% European Union 50% Group of Seven ×260% Denmark ×370% China ×370% United States ×380% Donald Trump ×490% Greenland ×9100%

Keywords

greenland 100% rare earth minerals 80% us acquisition 70% china 60% diplomatic crisis 60% transatlantic order 50% critical minerals 50% military invasion 40% us-china relations 40%