Is Trump’s Greenland push threatening China’s Polar Silk Road?

US Greenland push alarms China’s Arctic

Washington’s renewed push to acquire Greenland is fuelling tensions with Beijing, with China warning the United States not to use other countries as a “pretext” to pursue its interests, amid concerns that US moves could threaten China’s Arctic ambitions — particularly its proposed “Polar Silk Road”.

China said on Monday that its activities in the Arctic comply with international law, responding to repeated claims by US President Donald Trump that Washington must “take Greenland” to prevent China or Russia from gaining influence over the vast Arctic island.

Trump has argued that acquiring Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, is necessary for US security. Tensions have escalated in recent weeks as his administration presses the issue and considers a range of options, including military force, to secure control of the strategically located territory.

The debate has alarmed China, which declared itself a “near-Arctic state” in 2018 and has since sought a greater role in the region. Beijing has promoted the “Polar Silk Road” as part of its Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to develop Arctic shipping routes, expand access to resources and strengthen its strategic footprint in the High North.

Asked in Beijing about US assertions that taking over Greenland is necessary to block China, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said “China’s activities in the Arctic are aimed at promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and are in accordance with international law.” She did not elaborate on those activities.

Mao added that “the rights and freedoms of all countries to conduct activities in the Arctic in accordance with the law should be fully respected,” and warned that “the U.S. should not pursue its own interests by using other countries as a pretext.” She also said that “the Arctic concerns the overall interests of the international community.”

Trump, however, has doubled down on his stance. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, he said the US needs to “take Greenland,” arguing that otherwise Russia or China would. He said he would prefer to “make a deal” for the territory, but added: “but one way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland.”

The comments have drawn sharp reactions from Denmark and Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that an American takeover would effectively spell the end of NATO. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, along with leaders of the territory’s four other parliamentary parties, issued a joint statement last week insisting that Greenland’s future must be decided by its people and expressing their “wish that the United States’ contempt for our country ends.”

For Beijing, analysts say, the Greenland debate goes beyond diplomacy and touches directly on its long-term Arctic strategy. Greenland’s location near emerging Arctic sea lanes and its vast reserves of rare earths and other critical minerals make it central to China’s Polar Silk Road vision. A stronger US grip over the island could limit China’s commercial access and increase scrutiny of its Arctic investments.

Danish and Greenlandic envoys are expected in Washington this week for talks, while plans are also under way for US senators to visit Denmark, as the dispute increasingly exposes the Arctic as a new front in great-power rivalry between Washington and Beijing.

(With Inputs from agencies)