For now, the crisis seems averted; Trump is not (yet) annexing Greenland. But the issue could flare up again at any moment and has proven that, as a NATO ally, the United States are no longer a reliable partner. What does this mean for Europe’s security? And what awaits the Greenlanders?
‘By fair means or foul,’ President Trump said about wanting to take over Greenland, the autonomous territory that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Only to back down – but the bond of trust between the NATO allies had already been damaged. Trump’s antics are forcing Europe, including Greenland, to reflect: what does a Europe without security guarantees from the United States look like? Should we turn our backs on our long-standing ally, and can we afford to do so? Is it time for a European army? And how can Europe support the Greenlanders in their quest for independence so they don’t fall prey to the new imperialism of a major power?
About the speakers
Naaja H. Nathanielsen (born 1975) was first elected to the Inatsisartut, the Greenland Parliament, in 2009. She served until 2016, after which she became Director of the Greenland Prison and Probation Service. In April 2021, she was re-elected and was appointed to a ministerial position in the Egede government. She began as Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister of Finance. Her current portfolio in the Nielsen government is Business, Energy, Mineral Resources, Justice, and Gender Equality. Nathanielsen holds master’s degrees in psychology and journalism.
Fatimazhra Belhirch (born 1975) is a member of Parliament for D66, a member of the Benelux Parliament, and a board member of the Interparliamentary Union’s Committee on Peace and International Security. She previously worked as a member of the Senate and at the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the Interior, and Justice, and has built expertise in areas including human rights, security, emancipation, and the rule of law. As a lawyer and former civil servant, she combines head and heart and is committed to legislation that contributes to equal opportunities and trust in democracy.
Karen van Loon is a research fellow at the Clingendael Security and Defence Programme. She specializes in Arctic geopolitics, arms control, and nuclear non-proliferation. Karen was previously a researcher at the Egmont Institute. She has held positions as a teaching assistant in the Political Science Department of KU Leuven Kulak and as a lecturer in the Master of Teaching program at the University of Antwerp.
Reinier van Lanschot (born 1989) is co-founder of Volt Nederland, together with Laurens Dassen, and has been a Member of the European Parliament since 2024. In Brussels, he works on issues related to European defense, the regulation of Big Tech, and European treaty reform. He advocates for the United States of Europe as a strong force on the global stage. He describes this vision in his book Wij Zijn Europa, “We Are Europe.” Before his political career, Van Lanschot worked as a manager at Ahold. He lives in Maastricht with his wife and daughter.
Speakers
