President Donald Trump’s recent threats to annex Greenland–whether through purchasing or invading–have sparked great controversy and carry profound implications for Taiwan and the broader China-Taiwan relationship. Trump’s threats towards Greenland, an autonomous, self-governing territory of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally Denmark, may ultimately disrupt the United States (US)-led post-World War global order and severely undermine Taiwan’s security. 

Trump’s rationale for acquiring Greenland centers around three strategic interests: natural resources, northern trade routes, and national security. First, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, “Greenland[’s] rare earth resources … with 1.5 million tons, are among the largest in the world” (Schwartz and Baskaran, 2026). Second, Cable News Network (CNN) reports that “as the climate crisis melts Arctic ice, it could make northern trade routes more accessible throughout the year” (Ronald, 2026). Third, Greenland “sits astride the … GIUK Gap, a naval choke point between Greenland, Iceland and the U.K” (Meredith, 2026). Trump claims that its geopolitical location is vital for monitoring Russian and Chinese activities. 

Yet, Trump’s threat towards Greenland sets a dangerous precedent for Beijing. Most critically, Trump’s global commitments are severely overextending the American military’s capability. According to Mr. Williams, an Upper School AP US Government teacher, Trump’s “military action in general… is repositioning significant US military resources to conflicts that make it less likely that we, [the US], would be able to respond in an adequate fashion to actions in the Taiwan Strait.” In fact, the erosion of US naval power in the Indo-Pacific is already evident. In December 2025, two carrier strike groups, the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Washington, were stationed in East Asia to maintain stability in the Pacific; in January 2026, the “navy has ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln… to transit from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East” due to Iran tensions – leaving only the USS Washington to deter China (Army Recognition, 2026). With the US military stretched across multiple theaters, Mr. Williams explains that “I don’t see a world where we [the US] could do all of these things and adequately respond to an aggressive China in the Taiwan Strait.” 

Furthermore, Trump’s threats on Greenland damage America’s credibility. Mr. Williams warns that “if we [the US] damage the NATO relationship over Greenland, what countries are going to take the side of the United States?” This matters because if the US is willing to undermine the biggest Western alliance, what prevents it from backstabbing allies in East Asia?  

The implications for Taiwan are dangerous. With US troops scattered across the globe and credibility damaged, Beijing will exploit the US military’s overextension to attack Taiwan. Taiwan must act now by increasing coastal patrols, strengthening military ties with its neighbors, and investing in low-cost anti-missile capabilities. As modern warfare shifts towards saturation attacks via low-cost drones that aim to overwhelm defense systems, Taiwan must invest in high-energy lasers or jamming technologies. These technologies have proven to work, whether in South Korea or Israel, and have had an average cost per kill ratio of $10 United States Dollars (USD) compared to the traditional $35,000 USD. By doing this, if America’s security commitments fail, Taiwan’s security will still be able to deter Chinese aggression.

[PHOTO COURTESY OF JENS CEDERSKJOLD UNDER CC BY 4.0]