It’s an obvious move. Trump has brought it into the spotlight but the need has been talked about by various strategists and think tanks for years. The problem now is Trump has made it public that he wants it, so Western Europe and half of the US have to oppose it. They won’t sell and he can’t invade, so coercion is about all that’s left. Greenland doesn’t have much incentive to leave the EU for protection, because now they get social welfare handouts from the EU and free defense from the US. NATO has become a weakness for the US, but again, Trump will never be allowed to leave because he would like to.
My guess is we start making those “NATO” positions in Greenland all US positions by removing European personnel “for security reasons.” Then start Coast Guard and Navy patrols just outside their ports, set up ocean platform sensing stations just outside the 7 mile limit, maybe even airborne patrols. Make it clear to everyone that we control it whether they like it or not. Eventually the US fills needs for them because no one else is there, and the US exerts more influence.
The problem is, it’s a 20 year play, and that doesn’t get Trump any accolades and it also relies on strategic thinking successors. In the past we would have made deals for US corporations to invest heavily in their economy but today’s multinational ESG obsessed board members would revolt at the thought or sell out US interests.
It’s a pickle.