January 16, 2026 | 01:34 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - United States President Donald Trump has once again triggered geopolitical controversy after publicly expressing his desire for the United States to acquire Greenland, even suggesting that such a move could be pursued “by any means necessary.”
Trump argued that control over the autonomous Danish territory is critical to US national security, citing increased activity by Russia and China in the Arctic region.
He claimed that failure by Washington to act would allow the two powers to gain dominance over the strategically important territory.
The statement has raised alarm among observers and is being taken seriously by foreign policy experts.
Rachmat Yuliantoro, a professor of international relations at Gadjah Mada University, said the discourse surrounding Greenland goes beyond political rhetoric and signals a potentially destabilizing shift in global politics.
“Geographically, Greenland is indeed strategically important for US defense systems, future shipping routes, and access to critical minerals,” Rachmat said on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
“However, the idea of ‘acquiring’ the territory is clearly unrealistic and carries serious risks.”
According to Rachmat, Trump’s remarks reflect his provocative and unpredictable political style, but they are not without geopolitical calculation. He described the statement as part of a broader bargaining tactic aimed at multiple audiences.
Domestically, Rachmat said, Trump seeks to project the image of a strong leader safeguarding America’s strategic interests.
Toward US allies, particularly Denmark, the message functions as pressure to align more closely with Washington’s security agenda in the Arctic. At the same time, the statement sends a signal to Russia and China of America’s intent to maintain and expand its strategic dominance.
Rachmat added that Trump’s approach cannot be separated from personal political factors, particularly what he described as political narcissism.
“This mindset personalizes geopolitics. Territories are treated as assets, and international relations are approached like business transactions,” he said.
“This is what I call transactional expansionism. The goal is not to build an ideological empire, but to demonstrate dominance.”
He argued that Greenland has become a stage for generating global political tension, testing international reactions, and pushing the boundaries of acceptable diplomatic discourse.
However, Rachmat warned that if such rhetoric were ever translated into action, the consequences would be severe.
“Annexing Greenland would directly challenge the principles of national sovereignty and the right to self-determination,” he said.
He added that such a move could undermine the post–World War II international order, strain transatlantic relations, intensify tensions between Denmark and Greenland, provoke a strong response from the European Union, and weaken NATO’s political cohesion.
“This would set a dangerous precedent,” Rachmat said.
“It would signal that international law and norms are being sidelined in favor of raw power politics and coercion.”
He concluded that Trump’s remarks reflect a broader shift in the global order toward a more transactional, confrontational, and unstable pattern, one marked by heightened risks of open conflict.
Read: US Senate Blocks Bid to Limit Trump's Military Authority in Venezuela
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