'It would snap our threads': Veteran offers grim prediction about Trump Greenland invasion
A proposed military action against Greenland would "crumble alliance" with NATO nations and spells disaster for public approval, a veteran has warned.
The White House has suggested acquiring Greenland is a matter of national security, and that they would move to take over the country. This has been met with opposition from both Greenland's officials and Danish members of parliament. Donald Trump and members of the administration are keen to take the country into their possession for matters of national security.
But an Iraq War veteran believes sentiment for the war would be broadly negative, with a "disillusioned" public turning on the administration more than they already have.
Problems could also come with the damage an invasion of Greenland does to NATO members. Patrick Murphy, who served as the 32nd Under Secretary of the U.S. Army and is an Iraq War combat veteran, said a military operation in Greenland would be a point of no return for the US.
He told The Mirror US, "A military takeover of Greenland is certainly possible. But it's absolutely not practical. Military action would put the most strain on Article 5 since the creation of NATO, and it would effectively crumble our alliance. It would snap our last threads of allyship with European nations, and they're our strongest allies."
NATO, the North Atlantic treaty Organization, has 32 member states, 30 of which are in Europe. Article 5 of NATO states that an armed attack against one NATO member is an attack against all.
While military action in Greenland would need congressional approval, it has not stopped some from worrying about how the public mood would turn should such a strike happen.
Murphy said, "I'm hoping this is just irresponsible rhetoric. I hope and pray that America goes back to our roots as a reluctant warrior who honors our NATO commitments with our closest allies."
"The American people are fatigued of conflict abroad and would be further disillusioned by conflict with one of our historic allies." He added that "a majority of Americans understand that Europeans are [our] closest and most reliable allies in this world."