Greenland's Recent Crisis and the Ambitious US Annexation Plan: An Updated Overview Updated on 14 January 2026: This document provides a comprehensive look into the recent crisis in Greenland and the United States' ambitious proposal to annex the territory. Why might Greenland and Europe need to make concessions to Trump? Greenland is a territory of Denmark with self-governance since 2009 and aims for independence, but its economic self-sufficiency remains under development, which complicates U.S. ambitions. Denmark faces a diplomatic crisis, as the idea of the U.S. annexing territory from a NATO member seemed far-fetched until recently. Greenland’s defenses are sparse, and if the U.S. were to deploy troops, it could quickly take control. The U.S. already maintains a significant military base in northwestern Greenland under a 1951 agreement. In response, Denmark has significantly increased its defense budget and plans to acquire additional fighter jets. European lead...