Trump's Greenland Grab: Threatening NATO Ally for Minerals That Don't Exist

They call it "national security." It's actually imperial conquest.

Two weeks into his presidency, Donald Trump invaded Venezuela for oil. Admitted it openly: "We're taking the wealth from the ground." Days later, he threatened military strikes on Iran despite sanctions causing the protests. Now he's demanding a NATO ally hand over Greenland,  threatening to take it "the hard way" if Denmark refuses.

The justification? Rare earth minerals. Breaking China's dominance over critical resources. National security imperatives. Protecting the Arctic from Russian and Chinese encroachment.

The reality? Greenland's minerals are locked under ice in one of Earth's harshest environments. They're economically unviable. The one existing mine, not even rare earths, requires ship access during ice, free months and helicopter supply when the fjord freezes over. Experts say developing Greenland's mineral wealth would take "billions upon billions over decades." And even if mined, the minerals would need Chinese processing anyway because China controls 90% of global rare earth refining capacity.

So, if the minerals excuse is bullshit, what's this actually about? Arctic military control as ice melts and opens new shipping lanes. Geopolitical positioning against Russia and China. Imperial expansion wrapped in resource security rhetoric. And Trump is willing to destroy the NATO alliance, threatening military force against a founding member, to achieve it.

Denmark is a NATO ally. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty states an attack on one member is an attack on all. Trump threatening military action against Denmark to seize Greenland would trigger the collective defense clause, meaning European NATO members would be treaty, bound to defend Denmark against American aggression. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned this would be "the end of NATO." EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius agreed: Europe would be forced to confront the United States.

This isn't diplomacy. It's extortion backed by military threat. And it follows the exact pattern we documented in Venezuela, where Trump invaded under drug war pretext then admitted resource theft, and Iran where sanctions manufactured crisis then intervention threatened. Same playbook, different target. Except this time the target is a democratic ally in a defensive alliance the United States created.

Greenland's 56,000 people, overwhelmingly Indigenous Inuit, are united in rejection. All five of Greenland's political parties issued a joint statement: "We do not want to be Americans, we do not want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders." Their Prime Minister declared bluntly: If forced to choose between the US and Denmark, "we choose Denmark." Protests in Copenhagen demand "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders."

European response is unprecedented: France, Germany, and Sweden deployed military forces to Greenland this week at Denmark's request. Operation Arctic Endurance, joint exercises establishing European military presence in defense of Danish sovereignty. This is NATO members preparing to defend against NATO's founding member. The alliance is fracturing in real, time.

January 14, 2026: Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt met with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington. The meeting achieved nothing. Rasmussen told reporters afterward: "We didn't manage to change the American position. It's clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland." That word, “conquering”,  used deliberately. Not purchasing. Not negotiating. Conquering.

Trump's response same day: "Anything less than Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES is unacceptable. NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in our control." Rejecting the premise that an independent Greenland within NATO serves alliance interests. Demanding ownership. Territorial acquisition. Colonial annexation in 2026.

This investigation documents why Trump wants Greenland (not the minerals he claims), what resources actually exist there (and why they're worthless without Chinese processing), how this threatens NATO's survival (ally vs ally), where this fits Trump's pattern (Venezuela, Iran, now Greenland in 14 days), who benefits from Arctic control (military positioning not mining), and what Greenland actually is (self, governing territory of 56,000 Indigenous people who don't want American rule). The evidence is public, rare earth reserves, extraction costs, processing bottlenecks, NATO treaty obligations, European military deployments, Trump's own statements.

What they call national security is imperial expansion. What they claim is about minerals is about military bases. What they frame as protecting allies is threatening allies. And 56,000 Greenlanders are caught between a murderous American empire and a Danish protector hoping European solidarity can deter invasion.

By A. Kade

What This Investigation Exposes

Trump administration threatening military force to seize Greenland from Denmark claiming necessity for rare earth minerals to break China's critical minerals dominance and Arctic security against Russian Chinese encroachment, but investigation reveals minerals economically unviable locked under ice requiring billions in infrastructure investment over decades with only one operational mine currently producing anorthosite not rare earths accessible only by ship during ice, free months or helicopter when fjord freezes, expert testimony to Congress states developing Greenland mining would cost "billions upon billions over decades" with average 16, year timeline from conception to operational mine, geological estimates value resources at potential $4 trillion but only $186 billion realistically extractable under current technological and economic conditions, and critical bottleneck remains that even if minerals extracted they require Chinese processing for refining because China controls 90 percent of global rare earth processing capacity meaning breaking China dependence through Greenland mining is impossible without Chinese cooperation for processing stage.

Real motivation revealed through Trump's own statements demanding ownership not just access saying "when we own it we defend it" despite US already maintaining Thule Air Base in Greenland with treaty rights to expand military presence, geopolitical positioning as Arctic ice melts opening Northwest Passage shipping routes cutting Asia, Europe transit times significantly compared to Suez Canal creating strategic shipping lanes and military positioning opportunity against Russia and China, pattern matching Venezuela invasion January 3 2026 where Trump admitted "we're taking the wealth from the ground" after claiming drug war justification and Iran intervention threats January 2026 where sanctions manufactured economic crisis then military action threatened, with Greenland following same formula of resource pretext plus military threat plus imperial expansion within 14 days demonstrating systematic approach to territorial acquisition and resource control.

NATO alliance crisis emerging as Trump threatens military force against founding member Denmark triggering Article 5 collective defense obligations where attack on one member constitutes attack on all, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen explicitly warned US military action against Greenland would mark "the end of NATO," EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius confirmed Europe would be forced to confront United States if NATO allies obligated to defend Denmark from American aggression, unprecedented European military response with France Germany Sweden deploying troops to Greenland January 2026 for Operation Arctic Endurance joint exercises at Denmark's request establishing European defensive presence, creating scenario where NATO members prepare military defense against NATO's founding power with alliance fracturing in real, time over American imperial demands.

Greenland population unified in rejection with all five political parties issuing joint statement declaring "we do not want to be Americans we do not want to be Danes we want to be Greenlanders" demanding US "disdain for our country to end," Prime Minister Jens, Frederik Nielsen stating if forced to choose between US and Denmark "we choose Denmark," 56,000 people overwhelmingly Indigenous Inuit exercising self, determination against colonial annexation, protests in Copenhagen under banner "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders," UN experts backing self, determination right stating any attempt to modify Greenland's territorial status violates international law and could undermine regional stability, warning that "assertions suggesting territory can be taken controlled or owned by another state in pursuit of perceived national security or economic interests evoke logic of colonial domination the international community has long rejected."

Diplomatic efforts achieving zero progress as January 14 2026 meeting between Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Greenland Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio produced "fundamental disagreement" with Rasmussen stating "we didn't manage to change the American position" and "it's clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland" using word "conquering" deliberately not purchasing or negotiating but territorial conquest, working group created to address American security concerns while respecting Danish red lines but no actual progress toward resolution, Trump responding same day that "anything less than Greenland in hands of UNITED STATES is unacceptable" rejecting premise that independent Greenland within NATO framework serves alliance security interests and demanding ownership not cooperation.

China and Russia scare tactics exposed as manufactured threat where Trump claims "if we don't take it Russia or China will take over Greenland" and "there's not a thing Denmark can do about it but we can do everything about it," but Greenlanders directly contradict stating "the only Chinese I see is when I go to the fast food market" with residents reporting never seeing Russian or Chinese ships despite frequent sailing and hunting, Arctic security expert Marisol Maddox confirming "Greenland is not where we are seeing this activity" and "where we are seeing joint Russian and Chinese military activity is off the coast of Alaska which remains under, invested in by the US," Denmark already defending Greenland as NATO member with treaty obligations, US already maintaining military presence through Thule Air Base with expansion rights under existing 1951 defense agreement, manufactured threat serving as pretext for territorial acquisition not legitimate security concern.

Economic reality demonstrating Greenland not viable purchase target with economy totaling $3.5, 4 billion GDP serving 56,000 population, Denmark providing annual subsidy of approximately $520 million equivalent to $9,000 per resident, hypothetical purchase price estimates ranging from $50 billion to $186 billion if territory were for sale which it explicitly is not, US acquisition would require replacing Danish subsidy plus massive infrastructure investment for any mining operations plus ongoing governance costs, hundreds of billions in expenditure over decades for resources requiring Chinese processing anyway, Congressional funding extremely difficult sell given domestic opposition and cost, of, living pressures, making economic case for acquisition collapse under scrutiny even before considering political and alliance costs.

The Mineral Lie: Why Greenland's Rare Earths Are Worthless

Trump's entire justification rests on rare earth minerals. Breaking China's stranglehold on critical resources. Securing American supply chains. National security through resource independence.

Mike Waltz, Trump's former National Security Advisor and current UN Ambassador, was explicit in 2024: "This is about critical minerals. This is about natural resources." Not Arctic security. Not Russian threats. Minerals.

What Greenland actually has:

Rare earth reserves: 1.5 million tons according to US Geological Survey. Ranks 8th globally. Two massive deposits, Kvanefjeld and Tanbreez ,  among world's largest. Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland estimate total resources at 36, 42 million metric tons of rare earth oxides, potentially second, largest reserve globally after China.

Additionally: 25 of 34 materials the European Commission classifies as "critical" rare and raw minerals. Used in everything from electric vehicle motors to fighter jets, smartphones to wind turbines. Uranium for nuclear power. Potential offshore oil and gas, legacy estimates suggest 17.5 billion barrels of oil and 148 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, though 2021 moratorium froze new drilling.

Raw geological value: Potentially exceeding $4 trillion according to American Action Forum study. Sounds massive. Would justify significant investment.

The reality:

Only $186 billion realistically extractable under current market, regulatory, and technological conditions. That's the honest assessment after accounting for actual extraction challenges. And that's being generous.

Currently operational mines in Greenland: ONE. It produces anorthosite, not rare earths. Located deep inside fjord system with no road access. All supplies including crew arrive by ship during ice, free months or helicopter when fjord freezes over for months. This is the only mine that works. Not because others weren't tried, because Greenland makes mining nearly impossible.

The climate problem:

Eighty percent of Greenland is ice, covered. Temperatures reach, 40°F regularly. Only 20% of land is ice, free, and much of that is inaccessible or unsuitable for infrastructure. The harsh Arctic climate is "prohibitive to mining activities on most of the island throughout much of the calendar year," according to Congressional testimony.

Mining operations require year, round access. Greenland provides seasonal access at best. Equipment freezes. Supply chains break. Workers can't survive extended periods. The environment actively fights extraction.

The infrastructure problem:

Greenland lacks roads. Lacks railways. Lacks ports adequate for major mining operations. Lacks power generation capacity. Lacks water treatment facilities. Lacks housing for mining workforce. Lacks literally everything required to support industrial, scale mining except the rocks themselves.

Building this infrastructure? "Billions upon billions over decades," according to Anthony Marchese, chairman of Texas Mineral Resources Corporation who testified before Congress. Not exaggerating for effect. Actually billions. Actually decades.

Average timeline from mine conception to operational mine in Greenland: 16 years. Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland's minister responsible for natural resources, confirmed this publicly. And that's once you've secured permits, financing, built infrastructure, established supply chains.

The processing bottleneck:

Here's the fucking killer: Even if you mine rare earths in Greenland, you still need Chinese processing.

Rare earths must be separated and refined before they become useful metals or magnets. This processing stage is where China has near, total monopoly. Beijing controls approximately 90% of global rare earth processing capacity. Not mining, processing. You can dig minerals anywhere. You need Chinese facilities to make them usable.

So, Trump's plan to break Chinese dependence through Greenland mining fails at the processing stage. Mine the minerals, ship them to China for processing, buy them back as finished materials. You've added Greenland extraction costs without reducing China dependence. Actually, made supply chain longer and more expensive.

Industry expert Mathan Somasundaram, CEO of Deep Data Analytics: "Even if you mined it, then you have to send it to China for processing... In the medium to long term, it makes nearly no difference."

Jon Hykawy, president of Stormcrow Capital: "It is all about processing outside China. Greenland resources do not change the dynamics, as rare earth is not that rare. It is everywhere. Anyone who can do processing at scale outside China will get a premium."

Translation: Rare earths exist globally. What China monopolizes is processing. Greenland doesn't solve the actual problem.

Why China isn't there:

Critical question: If Greenland's rare earths are so valuable, why isn't China there?

China spent three decades scouring globe for rare earth deposits. Chinese companies invested in projects across Africa, Latin America, Australia, Southeast Asia. China attempted to grow footprint in Greenland through scientific expeditions, infrastructure investments, natural resource acquisitions.

By most metrics, the strategy failed. Major projects blocked due to security concerns. Chinese rare earth company Shenghe Resources is largest shareholder in Kvanefjeld mine with 12.5% ownership, but mine remains undeveloped.

Anthony Marchese again: "Why aren't they in Greenland? I believe they're not stupid people. They're all over the world. Why don't you see any of that there? I think it's just an infrastructure issue. How much money do you want to spend in the billions, and how long is it going to take?"

China concluded Greenland isn't economically viable despite having world, leading expertise in rare earth mining and processing. That should tell you everything.

Expert consensus:

Rebecca Pincus, senior fellow at Foreign Policy Research Institute and Arctic specialist who testified before Congress March 2025: "Greenland has rare earth minerals, but the island's conditions make mining these resources economically irrational. That doesn't change if Greenland becomes an American territory. There's just not a lot of infrastructure there. The climate is really super harsh. Those barriers aren't going to magically go away."

Trump administration officials acknowledge the costs but dismiss them as secondary. Their Senate testimony referenced "hundreds of billions of dollars" to acquire and support Greenland,  costs stemming from replacing Denmark's annual $600 million subsidy, massive infrastructure investments, and replicating the safety net Greenlanders currently enjoy.

Hundreds of billions. Over decades. For minerals requiring Chinese processing. To break Chinese dependence that you can't actually break. The economic case is fucking absurd.

The Real Motive: Arctic Military Control

If minerals don't justify Greenland acquisition, what does?

Geography. Military positioning. Arctic shipping lanes. Everything except what Trump claims.

Greenland's strategic location:

Sits between United States and Russia. Guards Arctic and North Atlantic approaches to North America. Controls access to potential Northwest Passage shipping route as Arctic ice melts. Positions military assets closer to Russian territory than mainland US bases. Provides surveillance and early warning capabilities for missiles that would fly over Arctic toward North America.

Climate change is opening new realities. Arctic ice melting creates shipping lanes that didn't exist. Northwest Passage through Arctic could cut Asia, Europe transit times dramatically compared to Suez Canal route. Countries positioned along these routes gain commercial and military advantages.

Russia and China both investing in Arctic capabilities. Russia strengthening military presence in polar regions. China declaring itself "Near, Arctic State" in 2018 despite being thousands of miles from Arctic Circle. China announcing "Polar Silk Road" as part of Belt and Road Initiative. Both countries see Arctic as future competition zone.

Then, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in 2019: "Do we want the Arctic Ocean to transform into a new South China Sea, fraught with militarization and competing territorial claims?" Legitimate concern. Arctic is becoming contested space.

What US already has:

Thule Air Base in northwestern Greenland. Established 1951. Maintains ballistic missile early warning system, satellite tracking, and space surveillance. Can be expanded under existing 1951 US, Denmark defense agreement. Agreement gives US broad latitude to increase military presence in Greenland without altering sovereignty.

So, US already has military base. Already has expansion rights. Already has treaty partner in Denmark (NATO ally) cooperating on defense. What more does military need?

Trump: "When we own it, we defend it."

Not about capabilities, about ownership. Not about access, about control. Not about cooperation, about dominion.

The pattern:

January 3, 2026: Trump invades Venezuela. Claims it's about fighting drug cartels. Hours later admits: "We're taking the wealth from the ground." Oil reserves. Resource extraction. Imperial annexation under cover story as documented in our Venezuela investigation.

January 2026: Trump threatens military strikes on Iran despite his sanctions causing the economic crisis triggering protests. Positions as saving Iranian people while maintaining policies destroying their economy. Intervention prepared under humanitarian pretext as exposed in our Iran investigation.

January 9, 2026: Trump begins Greenland threats. "We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not. Either the nice way or the more difficult way."

Same language. Same threat structure. Same pattern. Resource pretext (oil, minerals, security) plus military threat (invasion, strikes, annexation) plus imperial expansion (territorial control, not cooperation).

All within 14 days of second inauguration. Venezuela, Iran, Greenland. Three continents. Three resource pretexts. Three military threats. One imperial agenda.

Threatening the Alliance: NATO's Existential Crisis

Here's what makes Greenland different from Venezuela and Iran: Denmark is a NATO ally.

What NATO is:

North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Founded 1949. Collective defense alliance. Article 5 is the core: "The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all."

This is binding treaty. United States wrote it. Founding principle of Western security architecture for 75 years. Attack Denmark, you attack all NATO members. They're obligated to defend.

Denmark is founding member. Signed Washington Treaty 1949. Been in alliance since beginning. Paid dues, contributed forces, supported US military operations globally. Loyal ally for three, quarters of a century.

What Trump is threatening:

Military force to seize Greenland from Denmark.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, January 7: Using US military is "always an option" for acquiring Greenland.

Trump, January 9: "We're going to do something on Greenland, either the nice way or the more difficult way. When we own it, we defend it."

Pressed by reporters whether he would rule out military force: "I wouldn't be telling you what I'm willing to do. Certainly, I'm not going to give up options."

This is explicit. Not hypothetical. Not contingency planning. Active threat of military force against NATO ally to seize territory.

Denmark's response:

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, January 5: US military attack on Greenland would mark "the end of NATO." Not hyperbole. Literal assessment. Alliance cannot survive founding member attacking founding member.

The logic is inescapable: If US attacks Denmark to seize Greenland, Article 5 triggers. European NATO members are treaty, bound to defend Denmark. Against the United States. NATO members fighting NATO founding member. Alliance dies.

EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius confirmed this nightmare scenario: Europe would be forced to confront United States if Greenland's NATO allies had to protect it from American takeover attempt.

European military response:

Not hypothetical anymore. Actually happening.

January 14, 2026: Denmark announced increased military presence and exercise activity in Arctic and North Atlantic "in close cooperation with our allies."

Sweden: Deployed unspecified number of troops to Greenland for Operation Arctic Endurance. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced Swedish officers joining troops from other allied countries preparing for joint exercises.

Germany: Sent "reconnaissance team" of 13 military personnel to Greenland January 15, 17 for "exploration mission" at Denmark's invitation.

France: President Emmanuel Macron announced France joining joint exercises organized by Denmark in Greenland. "The first French military units are already on their way. Others will follow."

This is NATO members deploying military forces to defend against NATO's founding member. Unprecedented. Alliance fracturing in real, time.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte trying to maintain arms, length distance from dispute. But dispute is between alliance's most important power and members unnerved by Trump's aggressive tactic. Trying to mediate between United States demanding territorial conquest and Europeans defending ally sovereignty.

NATO General Alexus Grynkewich, head of NATO forces in Europe, said January 9 the alliance was "far from being in a crisis" with "no impact on my work at the military level." That was before European troops deployed to Greenland. Before diplomatic talks failed completely. Before fundamental disagreement confirmed.

The diplomatic failure:

January 14, 2026: Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt met with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at White House.

Rasmussen afterward: "We didn't manage to change the American position. It's clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland."

"Conquering." That's the word Denmark's foreign minister used publicly. Not purchasing. Not leasing. Not negotiating security arrangements. Conquering.

Working group created "to explore if we can find a common way forward." But Rasmussen explicit: Group should "focus on how to address the American security concerns while at the same time respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark."

Translation: Denmark willing to discuss expanded US military cooperation. Not willing to discuss territorial transfer. Those are red lines.

Trump's response same day: "NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES. Anything less than that is unacceptable."

Rejecting the premise. Demanding ownership. Not cooperation, conquest.

Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister of Sweden: "I expect a fairly hard meeting. I don't expect any resolution. This is a profound crisis."

Zero progress achieved. Fundamental disagreement remains. European troops deploying. NATO fracturing. And Trump says anything less than American ownership is "unacceptable."

Greenland Says No: Self, Determination vs Imperial Conquest

Fifty, six thousand people. Overwhelmingly Indigenous Inuit. Living on world's largest island. They have something to say about American designs on their homeland.

United rejection:

All five of Greenland's political parties, covering entire political spectrum, issued joint statement January 10: "We do not want to be Americans, we do not want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders. The U.S.'s disdain for our country must end."

Not ambiguous. Not divided. Not some, support, some, oppose. Universal rejection across political lines.

Prime Minister Jens, Frederik Nielsen, January 14 joint press conference with Danish PM: If Greenland forced to choose between United States and Denmark, "we choose Denmark."

Blunt. Unequivocal. No diplomatic hedging. We choose Denmark. Not you.

Greenland's representative to US, Jacob Isbosethsen, after meeting Congressional lawmakers: "Greenland is not for sale."

Again: Not for sale. Not at any price. Not under any terms. Not negotiable.

The protests:

Copenhagen, January 14: Demonstrations outside US Embassy under banner "Greenland Belongs to the Greenlanders." Protesters waving Greenland flags, red and white with circle, symbolizing sun rising over ice. Not Danish flags. Not American flags. Greenlandic flags.

The message: Self, determination. Not Danish colonialism. Not American imperialism. Greenlandic sovereignty.

Nuuk, Greenland's capital: International journalists descended as Trump escalated threats. Residents interviewed consistently reject American control.

Lars Vintner, heating engineer who frequently goes sailing and hunting: "The only Chinese I see is when I go to the fast-food market." Directly contradicting Trump's claims about Chinese threat. Mocking the premise.

Greenlanders live there. They would notice Russian and Chinese ships if present. They report seeing none. Trump manufactures threats from Washington while people on the ground call bullshit.

What Greenland is:

Self, governing territory of Denmark since 1979. "Home Rule" granted substantial autonomy. Greenland controls domestic affairs, education, health, natural resources, taxation. Denmark handles foreign affairs, defense, currency.

Independence movement exists. Many Greenlanders want full sovereignty from Denmark. But wanting independence from Denmark doesn't mean wanting American rule. Exactly opposite.

Greenland's five political parties disagree on independence timeline, economic strategy, relationship with Denmark. But they're unanimous on one thing: Not becoming American territory. The independence faction especially opposes trading Danish sovereignty for American domination.

The colonial history:

Greenland's relationship with Denmark is complicated. Colonial for centuries. Denmark ruled Greenland as colony from 1721. Exploitation, cultural suppression, resource extraction without benefit to Greenlanders. Only 1979 Home Rule began changing dynamics.

Danish colonialism left scars. Language policies forced Danish over Greenlandic. Children removed from families for "education" in Denmark. Traditional ways of life disrupted. Economic dependency created through subsidy system, Denmark provides approximately $520 million annually, about $9,000 per resident, making Greenland financially dependent.

Some Greenlanders want to end this dependency. Achieve full independence. Control their resources. Determine their future. That's self, determination.

Trump isn't offering self, determination. He's offering different colonialism. American instead of Danish. Wrapped in "protection" rhetoric. Same imperial logic Denmark used.

What Trump is offering:

Become US territory. American citizens. Access to US market. Protection from Russia and China. Investment in infrastructure. Development of mineral resources.

Some Greenlanders might find this appealing. Access to American economy. Infrastructure development. Mining jobs. Economic opportunities.

Trump administration reportedly mulled sending lump sums of cash to Greenlanders to sway them toward joining US. Buying support. Individual payments to change allegiance.

Asked about amounts, Trump said January 9: "I'm not talking about money for Greenland yet."

"Yet." Implying cash payments coming. Trying to purchase population. Like paying conquered peoples to accept occupation.

Why it's colonial:

Greenland didn't ask for American rule. Greenlanders consistently say no. All five political parties reject it. Prime Minister rejects it. Protests demand it end. But Trump insists "we're going to do something whether they like it or not."

Whether they like it or not.

That's colonialism. That's conquest. That's imperial domination. Not self, determination. Not democratic choice. Forced annexation despite population opposition.

UN experts, January 14 statement: Any attempt to "modify" Greenland's territorial or constitutional status would violate international law and could "undermine" regional stability. "Assertions suggesting that a territory can be taken, controlled or 'owned' by another state in pursuit of perceived national security or economic interests evoke a logic of colonial domination that the international community has long rejected."

Colonial domination. Exactly what this is. UN experts called it explicitly. Not liberation. Not protection. Colonial domination in 2026.

The Pattern: Venezuela, Iran, Greenland in 14 Days

Pull back. Look at timeline. See the pattern.

January 3, 2026: Venezuela

Trump invades. Sends military forces. Captures President Maduro. Claims it's about fighting drug cartels and saving Venezuelan people from dictatorship.

Hours later, meeting with oil executives: "We're taking the wealth from the ground."

Admits it. Oil theft. Venezuela has world's largest proven oil reserves. Trump wants them. Invasion serves resource extraction. As documented in our Venezuela investigation, humanitarian pretext covers imperial annexation for corporate benefit.

January 8, 14, 2026: Iran

Protests erupt after economic collapse. Trump's 2018 sanctions destroyed Iranian economy, rial lost 80%, inflation 40%+, people can't afford food. Sanctions manufactured the crisis.

Trump threatens military intervention. "Help is on the way." Iran state TV responds with death threat against Trump. US withdrawing personnel from regional bases preparing for possible strikes.

As exposed in our Iran investigation, Western sanctions created conditions for protest, now intervention threatened under humanitarian pretext while maintaining policies causing suffering. Same playbook as Libya, Iraq, Syria.

January 9, 14, 2026: Greenland

Trump demands Denmark hand over Greenland. "Either the nice way or the more difficult way." Military force "always an option." Anything less than US ownership "unacceptable."

Denmark refuses. Greenland refuses. Trump insists anyway. "We're going to do something whether they like it or not."

Claims it's about rare earth minerals and protecting against China/Russia. Reality: Minerals economically unviable, require Chinese processing anyway, and threats are manufactured. Actually, about Arctic military control and imperial expansion.

The pattern is fucking obvious:

Step 1: Identify resource or strategic location (oil, minerals, Arctic position)

Step 2: Manufacture justification (drugs, humanitarian crisis, China threat)

Step 3: Threaten military force ("the hard way," "help is on the way," "always an option")

Step 4: Dismiss international law ("I don't need international law”, actual Trump quote after Maduro capture)

Step 5: Pursue regardless of local opposition (Venezuelans, Iranians, Greenlanders don't matter)

Step 6: Frame as national security (protecting America, not imperial conquest)

All within 14 days. Three continents. Three targets. Three resource pretexts. Three military threats. One imperial agenda.

This isn't isolated incidents. This is systematic. Trump's second term opens with wave of imperial expansion. Venezuela for oil. Iran for regional control. Greenland for Arctic positioning. All wrapped in different justifications. All serving same goal: American territorial and resource control.

What You Need to Know

Trump threatening military force to seize Greenland from NATO ally Denmark claiming necessity for rare earth minerals to break China's critical minerals monopoly and defend Arctic against Russian Chinese encroachment, but minerals economically unviable locked under ice requiring billions in infrastructure over decades with only one operational mine currently and that mine producing anorthosite not rare earths accessible only seasonally by ship or helicopter, expert Congressional testimony confirming developing Greenland mining would cost "billions upon billions over decades" with 16, year average timeline and even if extracted still requires Chinese processing for refining because China controls 90% global capacity making breaking China dependence through Greenland impossible, revealing mineral justification is bullshit and real motive is Arctic military control as ice melts opening Northwest Passage shipping routes providing strategic positioning against Russia China.

NATO alliance facing existential crisis as Trump threatens to seize territory from founding member Denmark triggering Article 5 collective defense where attack on one member constitutes attack on all, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warning US military action would mark "the end of NATO," EU Defense Commissioner confirming Europe would be forced to confront United States if NATO allies obligated to defend Denmark from American aggression, unprecedented European military response with France Germany Sweden deploying troops to Greenland January 2026 for Operation Arctic Endurance establishing defensive presence at Denmark's request, January 14 diplomatic meeting achieving zero progress with Danish Foreign Minister stating "we didn't manage to change American position" and "it's clear president has this wish of conquering over Greenland" using word conquering deliberately while working group created but fundamental disagreement remains with Trump responding "anything less than Greenland in hands of UNITED STATES is unacceptable."

Greenland's 56,000 people overwhelmingly Indigenous Inuit united in rejection with all five political parties issuing joint statement "we do not want to be Americans we do not want to be Danes we want to be Greenlanders" demanding US "disdain for our country must end," Prime Minister Jens, Frederik Nielsen declaring if forced to choose between US and Denmark "we choose Denmark," Greenland representative to US stating "Greenland is not for sale," protests in Copenhagen under "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders" banner, UN experts backing self, determination warning any attempt to modify territorial status violates international law and "evokes logic of colonial domination the international community has long rejected," residents contradicting Trump's China/Russia threat claims with heating engineer stating "the only Chinese I see is when I go to the fast food market" and never seeing Russian or Chinese ships despite frequent sailing and hunting.

Pattern emerging across three targets in 14 days where January 3 Trump invaded Venezuela claiming drug war but admitted "we're taking wealth from the ground" for oil reserves as documented in our Venezuela investigation, January 8, 14 threatened Iran military intervention after his sanctions manufactured economic crisis causing protests following same Libya Iraq Syria playbook exposed in our Iran investigation, and January 9, 14 demanding Greenland from NATO ally using mineral pretext that doesn't withstand scrutiny while threatening "either nice way or more difficult way" and dismissing international law following Maduro capture quote "I don't need international law," revealing systematic imperial expansion agenda with resource pretexts plus military threats plus territorial control all within two weeks of second inauguration.

China/Russia scare tactics manufactured where Trump claims "if we don't take it Russia or China will take over Greenland" but Arctic security expert Marisol Maddox confirming "Greenland is not where we are seeing this activity" and "where we are seeing joint Russian and Chinese military activity is off coast of Alaska which remains under, invested in by US," Denmark already defending Greenland as NATO member, US already maintaining Thule Air Base with treaty expansion rights under existing 1951 defense agreement, Greenlanders reporting zero Russian or Chinese presence contradicting manufactured threat narrative serving as pretext for territorial acquisition not legitimate security concern.

Economic reality exposing acquisition makes no sense with Greenland economy $3.5, 4 billion GDP serving 56,000 population, Denmark providing $520 million annual subsidy equivalent $9,000 per resident, purchase price estimates ranging $50, 186 billion if territory were for sale which it explicitly is not, US acquisition requiring Danish subsidy replacement plus massive infrastructure investment for mining plus ongoing governance costs totaling hundreds of billions over decades for resources requiring Chinese processing anyway, Congressional funding nearly impossible given domestic opposition and cost pressures, making economic case absurd even before considering NATO alliance destruction and colonial domination of Indigenous population unified in rejection.

Related Investigations:

Venezuela Invasion: Trump's Oil Theft Disguised as Fighting Drugs
Iran Burning: How 45 Years of Sanctions Created Revolution West Now Exploits
The Libya Catastrophe: NATO Destroyed Africa's Wealthiest Country
Eastern Europe Elections: How Western NGOs Control Outcomes

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