What to Know
- President Trump and members of his administration have said in interviews that the U.S. will take control of Greenland "one way or another."
- Greenland, an autonomous (self-governing) country within Denmark, is a member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). NATO is a defense agreement between the U.S., many European counties and others such as Canada. As a NATO member, the U.S. already has access to military bases in Greenland.
- The government of Greenland and Denmark have rejected the idea of a U.S. takeover of the territory.
Why It Matters
A U.S. military takeover of Greenland would risk ending U.S. alliances. It is unclear who or what would benefit from a hostile takeover.
Discussion Questions
- Why is the Trump administration interested in taking control over Greenland?
- Why do you think the Trump administration offers security concerns as a reason, even though the U.S. already has military in Greenland as part of NATO forces?
How Much Power Does the President Really Have Abroad?
This classroom resource helps students examine the limits and reach of presidential authority in U.S. foreign policy, using Venezuela and Greenland as case studies. It connects constitutional roles, historical doctrines like the Monroe Doctrine, and current events to spark critical thinking about who makes decisions—and why it matters.
Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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