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Diplomacy on thin ice as Greenland dispute crescendos
21 January 2025
The second year of President Trump’s second term has officially kicked off amidst the US leader seeking to reshape the global order. Tensions with European allies in particular have heated up with multiple US allies speaking out at Davos to condemn the actions of the United States. This follows the publication of a text exchange between President Trump and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. Prime Minister Store reached out to ask to “work to take this down and de-escalate” to which president Trump responded, “Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace,” before making the case for why the United States must have, “Complete and Total Control of Greenland.”
While not ruling out the option of taking Greenland by force, President Trump also sent letters to dozens of leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, to invite them to join his new Board of Peace. Initially pitched as a phase in the reconstruction of Gaza, the invitations did not explicitly mention Gaza and the terms of reference are unclear. So far, Argentina, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Morocco and Vietnam have accepted the invitation, and Canada has expressed support in principle (with some caveats). France rejected the initial invitation, citing concerns that the board would undermine the United Nations. One critical distinction between the Board of Peace and the UN is that in the new Board, the chair alone holds the power of the veto and President Trump is the self-appointed chair.
US allies are facing some of the biggest tests of their diplomatic mettle. European allies are facing the threat of high tariffs if they do not back Trump on acquiring Greenland. In addition to navigating the Trump administration's pursuit of Greenland, other allies like Australia must also consider whether they want a seat at the table on the Board of Peace or how they will manage their relationship with the United States if they decline; a job that may be more difficult if the role of US ambassador to Australia remains vacant.
This sets the stage for President Trump to continue his strong international focus in 2026, a decision that could cost Republicans in the midterms if they cannot sell their focus to voters at home.
Mari Koeck
Director of Engagement and Impact
Lead photo: People bear Greenlandic flags and a placard that reads: "We Are Not For Sale" as they gather in front of the US consulate building in Nuuk, Greenland, to protest against President Trump's intent to acquire the autonomous Danish territory (photo by Sean Gallup via Getty Images).
"Stop invoking rules-based international order as though it still functions as advertised. Call it what it is: a system of intensifying great power rivalry where the most powerful pursue their interests using economic integration as coercion."
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Securing the Indian Ocean: India-Australia maritime partnership
The Indian Ocean is fast becoming one of the world’s most geo-strategically contested maritime arenas. The region’s littoral and island states are grappling with how to respond to this strategic competition but also face multi-dimensional maritime security challenges. These, in turn, are exacerbated by climate change and other economic and social vulnerabilities.
As the two largest maritime democracies in the Indian Ocean Region, Australia and India share a stake — and responsibility — in its stability and resilience. Both countries are well-positioned to assist littoral and island states in building their governance capacities to address common maritime security challenges. They can accomplish more by working together than alone, but this is easier said than done. Key questions to address include:
- What are the most pressing maritime security challenges facing the Indian Ocean region?
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To unpack these issues, the United States Studies Centre will host a fireside chat with Rushali Saha, USSC Maitri Fellow and Dr Lavina Lee, Director of Foreign Policy and Defence at the United States Studies Centre.
28 January 2026
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