The explicit assertion by officials in the Trump administration that the United States has a “right” to Greenland has once again stripped away the façade of transatlantic relations. Europe, which for years portrayed itself as an independent and decisive actor endowed with political, economic, and military power, has now limited itself to passive and purely rhetorical positions in the face of a direct threat to the territorial integrity of one of its own members. The reactions voiced by European leaders and Denmark, rather than signaling strength, have reflected structural weakness and deep security dependence on the United States.

In this context, Greenland is not just an island; it has become a new symbol of humiliation for the European Union. Europe’s exclusion from key global negotiations—from Gaza to Ukraine—the imposition of unilateral tariffs, forced purchases of U.S. energy and food, and now the threat of seizing European territory are all links in the same chain, exposing Europe’s true standing in the global order.

Claimed Independence, Real Dependence

Europe’s conduct in this crisis has laid bare the deep contradiction between rhetoric and reality. While European leaders speak of the “right of the people of Greenland to self-determination,” some, including the German chancellor, invoke arguments such as “Greenland is for NATO,” effectively smoothing the path toward legitimizing U.S. intervention. This is despite the fact that NATO is, in practice, fully dominated by Washington, making such positions little more than tacit acceptance of American hegemony.

Europe neither possesses an independent deterrent capability nor demonstrates the will to confront its arrogant partner in any meaningful way. This structural dependence has reduced objections to empty statements, with no practical measures taken to defend an EU member state—an outcome that further undermines Europe’s credibility in the eyes of other global actors.

Behavioral Double Standards and the Erosion of Credibility

The Greenland crisis did not emerge in a vacuum. Europe’s behavior toward the U.S. military aggression against Venezuela, the abduction of that country’s legitimate president, its silence in the face of occupation and genocide in Gaza, and its full alignment with the war in Ukraine all point to a consistent pattern: selective defense of international law. The European Union, which presents itself as a champion of legality and human rights, chooses silence or complicity when these principles are openly violated by the United States and the Zionist regime. This double standard has not only eroded Europe’s moral legitimacy but has also turned it into an unreliable actor in the international system—one that can neither serve as a mediator nor shape the future order.

Acknowledging Reality and the Outlook for a New Order

Josep Borrell’s remarks that the United States is no longer Europe’s primary ally constitute an important acknowledgment, but one devoid of practical backing. They suggest that even within Europe’s own elite circles, awareness is growing about Washington’s domineering nature. Yet experience shows that this awareness has not translated into independent action, and Europe continues to move within the orbit of U.S. decision-making.

The Greenland case, like the wars in Gaza, Venezuela, and Ukraine, signals the international system’s transition to a new phase—one in which American unilateralism is facing serious challenges and the world is moving toward a multipolar order. If Europe seeks survival and relevance in this emerging order, it has only one path forward: a genuine break from alignment with the United States, the lifting of unjust sanctions, concrete resistance to Washington’s interventions, and sincere support for oppressed nations.

Otherwise, a continent that once saw itself as the center of global decision-making will be pushed to the margins of history—and Greenland will stand as the first open sign of this strategic decline.