Why Trump Says Greenland Is ‘So Strategic’ for Missile Defense
Less than a week after US Special Forces captured Venezuela’s leader, the Trump Administration has turned its focus to Greenland, with US Vice President JD Vance accusing Danish and EU leaders of failing to appreciate its value to global security. The autonomous territory of Denmark hosts the US Space Forces’ Pittuffik base, which conducts critical missile warning, defense and space surveillance. Trump and Vance’s comments come as Russia and China — which labels itself a ‘Near-Arctic State’ — have expanded their own economic, security and scientific activities within the Arctic Circle. Trump’s comments have set off a wave of concern and condemnation in not just Copenhagen, but across Europe and Canada. Why is Greenland so important to Trump? And is this the end of NATO? In this episode, we discuss the territory’s military and economic significance to the US, Russia and China’s Arctic policies, and what the latest developments mean for global peace and stability — from the North Atlantic to the Taiwan Strait. *Recorded on January 9, 2026 at 11am Taiwan Standard Time Host/Senior Producer: Yin Khvat Our guests: Tony Hu - Former US Department of Defense Senior Director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia Marcin Jerzewski - European Values Center for Security Policy Taiwan Office Head
