Trump strongly promotes "Tangraism"! Denmark and Greenland's foreign ministers urgently hold a press conference to reaffirm the red line of sovereignty

U.S. President Trump reiterated on Wednesday that the reason for wanting Greenland is solely based on national security considerations, and he loudly criticized Denmark for being unable to protect this strategic Arctic location. Trump’s remarks came after a crucial meeting between U.S. Vice President Pence, Secretary of State Pompeo, and the Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers. In the Oval Office at the White House, Trump emphasized to reporters that Greenland is vital to national security, including Denmark’s own security. He pointed out that if Russia or China attempt to occupy or expand influence in Greenland, Denmark would be powerless to resist, but the United States can do many things, citing recent U.S. actions regarding Venezuela as an example.

Is Trump practicing “Donroe Doctrine”?

Trump has repeatedly emphasized that the U.S. wants Greenland, a stance often interpreted as the implementation of a personal-style “Donroe Doctrine.” This is not an institutionalized diplomatic theory but a pragmatic approach that prioritizes American national interests, emphasizing realpolitik in buying and selling. Trump tends to evaluate a region’s importance based on strategic value; Greenland, located in the Arctic core, spans the strategic corridor between North America and Eurasia, involving missile warning, space surveillance, Arctic shipping routes, and critical resource development, making it highly valuable militarily and geopolitically for the U.S.

Another characteristic of the “Donroe Doctrine” is a highly instrumental understanding of alliances. Trump does not deny the importance of allies but repeatedly questions whether they bear sufficient defense responsibilities and advocates for security to be based on “reciprocal exchange.” His public criticism of Denmark’s inability to protect Greenland continues his consistent demand for allies to strengthen defenses against China and Russia. Most controversially, Trump’s understanding of sovereignty leans more toward power and control rather than solely adhering to existing international law or historical context.

Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers voice firm stance on sovereignty red line

Earlier on the same day Trump made his remarks, Danish Foreign Minister Lasse Skovgaard Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt met with U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo and Vice President Pence at the White House. Afterward, they held a press conference stating they agreed to establish a high-level working group with the U.S. to discuss a series of security and strategic concerns related to Greenland, with the first meeting possibly scheduled within the next few weeks. Both foreign ministers explicitly stated that they are uncompromising on the U.S. stance that “Greenland must be annexed,” which is an unacceptable violation of sovereignty for Denmark and Greenland. Rasmussen openly said outside the Danish embassy in Washington that he was unable to change the U.S. position, and it was clear that President Trump is intent on conquering Greenland.

Will Greenland be incorporated into the U.S. map, making NATO stronger?

Before this nearly two-hour meeting, Trump had already emphasized on social media that if Greenland were incorporated into the U.S., NATO would become stronger. In recent weeks, he repeatedly reiterated that acquiring Greenland is an urgent matter for U.S. national security and accused Denmark of being unable to resist the increasing influence of Russia and China in the Arctic region.

At the press conference, Motzfeldt stated that Denmark is taking on more responsibilities in practice, significantly increasing defense investments in the Arctic and Greenland in recent years, including port facilities, drones, fighter jets, and other military capabilities. She pointed out that under the 1951 “Greenland Defense Agreement,” the U.S. already has extensive rights for military transit and deployment, and if the U.S. requests further, Denmark is willing to consider it constructively. Denmark also emphasized that Greenland has been a NATO member through the Kingdom of Denmark since 1949, protected under NATO’s Article 5 collective defense clause.

Rasmussen reviewed that during the Cold War, the U.S. had up to 17 military facilities and about 10,000 troops stationed in Greenland, but now only one base with about 200 personnel remains. He noted that this change was not due to Denmark but a policy choice by the U.S. itself. While security conditions have indeed changed, he emphasized that this does not necessarily lead to the conclusion of annexing Greenland.

Denmark and the U.S. have had diplomatic relations for over 225 years, making Denmark one of America’s oldest allies, with a mature cooperation framework. Rasmussen stated that the importance of this meeting lies in the fact that it is the first time they could openly discuss differences at the highest political level, clarifying some false claims, such as Trump’s accusation that “Greenland is full of Chinese warships,” which does not align with Danish intelligence. Motzfeldt expressed in her native language to the Greenlandic people the importance of deepening relations, historical ties, and cooperation between Greenland and Denmark. At the end of the press conference, Denmark reiterated its willingness to cooperate with the U.S., but only on the condition that an inviolable sovereignty red line is established.

What is the Donroe Doctrine?

The Donroe Doctrine is an emerging term that first appeared in early 2026. The term was originally coined by Trump himself, but the media mainly uses it to describe the aggressive and unorthodox foreign policy exhibited by U.S. President Donald Trump during his second term.

Etymology

Donroe Doctrine is a neologism created by Trump, combining two concepts:

Don: derived from U.S. President Donald Trump’s name.
Roe: derived from the Monroe Doctrine proposed by U.S. President James Monroe in 1823.

Historical background and evolution

Monroe Doctrine (1823): Initially asserted that the Americas are for Americans, emphasizing that European powers should not interfere in Western Hemisphere affairs, serving as the cornerstone of American isolationism.
Donroe Doctrine (2026): Seen as a modern variant of the Monroe Doctrine, invented by Trump. It no longer merely defends against external interference but advocates that the U.S. can “directly intervene” in neighboring countries’ sovereignty or forcibly redraw spheres of influence for its own interests.

The term “Donroe Doctrine” became popular in early 2026 mainly due to:

U.S. actions in Venezuela: The Trump administration’s tough military or political interventions in Venezuela (e.g., actions against Maduro’s government) are viewed as practical implementations of this doctrine.
U.S. protection of the world order: Including Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring Greenland.

Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) policy strongly resonates with the principles of the Donroe Doctrine.

This article “Trump Pushes ‘Donroe Doctrine’! Denmark and Greenland Foreign Ministers Urgently Hold Press Conference to Reaffirm Sovereignty Red Lines” first appeared on Lianhe Zaobao ABMedia.