NATO Ally Says Trump’s US Poses Security Threat

Denmark has for the first time identified the United States as one of the security threats facing the country in an annual risk assessment published on Wednesday.

The report, from the Danish Defence Intelligence Service (DDIS), revealed that the U.S. is “now using its economic and technological strength as an instrument of power, including toward allies and partners.”

The report also concluded that uncertainty over U.S.’s security role in Europe was likely to spur Russia to intensify its hybrid attacks against NATO members, which have already accused Moscow of repeated drone and aircraft breaches of its airspace.

Why It Matters

The assessment follows a report by the Danish newspaper Politiken in November that the country’s government had installed a night watch alert system to monitor whether Trump would make comments about Greenland. That policy was prompted by Trump’s statements that he would not rule out military or economic coercion to gain control of the autonomous territory.

The Danish agency’s conclusion that there was “uncertainty about the U.S. role as guarantor of Europe’s security,” shows Copenhagen’s concern, shared among NATO members in Europe, about Trump’s commitment to the continent in the event of a future conflict as the alliance faces increasing threats from Russia.

What To Know

The DDIS report was released Wednesday and was covered by Danish media. Among its conclusions was that there was greater competition between the U.S., China and Russia regarding the Arctic and Greenland, an autonomous territory sought by President Donald Trump which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

“The region’s strategic importance is growing as the conflict between Russia and the West intensifies. The United States’ stated security focus on the Arctic will accelerate this development,” the report said, originally in Danish.

“The increased great-power competition in the Arctic has significantly heightened international attention on the region.

“This applies especially to the United States’ growing interest in Greenland and its importance for U.S. national security. This attention also increases the threat of espionage, including cyber espionage, and attempts at influence against all parts of the Kingdom of Denmark.”

The agency added that the risk posed to the region by Russia and China had “become more serious,” and it noted that Beijing’s use of economic and military leverage continues to challenge Western influence in the region. 

Rasmus Sinding Søndergaard, an expert on Danish-U.S. relations, told Newsweek last month that the Danish government and authorities were very concerned about what Trump might do next regarding Greenland. 

Søndergaard said that the government had noted a change of Trump’s tactics over the year from “outlandish remarks about taking Greenland with force,” to focusing on persuading the Greenlanders themselves about economic benefits of partnership.  

“There’s a clear sense that Trump is still very much committed to this idea of getting control over Greenland,” Søndergaard said.

What People Are Saying

The Danish Defence Intelligence Service (DDIS) report released Wednesday said: “The United States uses economic power, including threats of high tariffs, to enforce its will, and no longer rules out the use of military force, even against allies.”

Rasmus Sinding Søndergaard, senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) told Newsweek on November 28: “The Danish government and Danish authorities remain very much concerned about what Trump might do next in relation to Greenland.” 

What Happens Next

The Danish agency’s report does not warn of an imminent attack on the country in future but it is likely to spark a debate about the U.S. commitment to European security and the Trump administration’s next move regarding Greenland and its relationship with Denmark.