Greenland claims: How close have NATO members come to fighting each other?

"The US is considering military action to seize Greenland, in a move that could cause divisions within the NATO alliance. The Trump administration has once again threatened to take control of Greenland either by acquiring it or through the use of military force to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region. Greenland, which is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, already hosts the Pituffik Space Base, which the US operates in coordination with Danish authorities."

"European and Canadian leaders have jumped to support Denmark and Greenland, saying they are working on a plan in the event the United States follows through with its threats. Analysts have said that any attempt by the US to seize Greenland would be an unprecedented move in NATO's history and raise serious questions about the survival of the alliance and the limits of Article 5, which was designed to defend against an external aggressor."

"Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty states that an armed attack against one NATO member is considered an attack against all. Because Article 5 requires unanimous agreement from all members to be invoked, a conflict between two members would lead to an impasse, as the alliance cannot vote to go to war against itself."

The United States has threatened to acquire or use military force to seize Greenland, raising tensions within NATO. Greenland is a semi-autonomous Danish territory that hosts the US-operated Pituffik Space Base. Both the US and Denmark are founding NATO members, prompting European and Canadian leaders to back Denmark and prepare contingency plans. Analysts warn that a US move to seize Greenland would be unprecedented and could jeopardize NATO cohesion and the practical application of Article 5. Article 5 defines collective defence as an armed attack on one being an attack on all and requires unanimous consent, creating an impasse if two members collide.

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