As President Donald Trump continues to insist that U.S. needs Greenland and he will annex the island either by buying it or taking it by force from Denmark, another European nation is now concerned about losing another arctic territory. Politicians in Norway are now worried that, after Greenland, focus might shift to nearby Svalbard, an archipelago located between Greenland and Norway, and governed by Norway.
Norway’s Socialist Left Party (SV) leader Kirsti Bergstø said that if US annexes Greenland, it could undermine Norway’s hold on the demilitarised Svalbard archipelago and invite aggressive claims from Russia. She has urged Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to address parliament on the potential fallout from U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed threats to seize control of Greenland.
Bergstø fears that Trump’s aggressive rhetoric toward Denmark’s autonomous territory could destabilise long-standing Arctic treaties, potentially emboldening other powers in the resource-rich region. “We need a public debate on this new and very serious situation where the U.S. is openly threatening an ally,” Bergstø told the media, emphasising the need for clarity on implications for Norwegian sovereignty.
She also questioned whether U.S. actions and rising great-power rivalry pose a threat to Svalbard, and what consequences might follow if America follows through on its threats against Greenland.
Calling it “Svalbard’s new security situation,” Kirsti Bergstø said that the archipelago faces challenges from two fronts, both the USA and Russia. She said that after capturing Greenland, the US might target Svalbard next to enhance its presence in the Arctic. Or, Russia might interpret the US capturing the Danish territory as a signal that territorial and treaty-based settlements in the region are once again open to challenge, and target Svalbard as a result.
The Svalbard archipelago, a cluster of islands in the Arctic Ocean governed by Norway under the 1920 Svalbard Treaty, allows equal access to resources for signatory nations. However, the treaty restricts military use of the islands, prohibiting permanent bases and fortifications. The treaty prevents the archipelago from being used for “war-like purposes.” The archipelago is free for anyone to visit and stay without a visa.
Norway has recently moved to strengthen its control, including restricting foreign voting rights and blocking land sales to outsiders, amid influences from Russia and China. Trump’s interest in Greenland dates back to 2019 but has intensified since his return to office, with the president repeatedly stating the U.S. will “take” the island “whether they like it or not,” citing national security and resource needs.
Greenlandic leaders have firmly rejected these overtures, viewing them as a violation of sovereignty. Denmark and other European nations have also opposed the suggestion of US taking of Greenland.
