Harald Viereck Fehlinger, an Austrian political activist associated with an unofficial NATO enlargement advocacy group, issued a stark warning to the United States over its stated interest in acquiring Greenland, threatening the removal of American military forces and bases from Europe if such a move were to occur.
Fehlinger stated that any U.S. attempt to take control of Greenland would be met with decisive European retaliation, including the confiscation of U.S. military bases across the continent. He specifically referenced major American installations such as Aviano Air Base in Italy, Ramstein Air Base in Germany, and U.S. facilities in Romania, asserting that these bases would be taken over and operated by European forces.
According to Fehlinger, the loss of these bases would dismantle the foundation of American power projection in Europe that has existed since World War II. He argued that Europe could defend itself without U.S. troops, without the American nuclear umbrella, and without U.S. military infrastructure on the continent. He further claimed that U.S. forces would be expelled and sent back to the United States, ending America’s military footprint in Europe.
Fehlinger framed Greenland as a point of strategic leverage, stating that Europe’s ability to deny basing rights would serve as a direct response to any U.S. annexation effort. He characterized this approach as proportional, warning that an extreme U.S. action would be met with an equally extreme European reaction.
While Fehlinger’s comments were forceful, he holds no official position within NATO, the European Union, or any European government, and his statements do not represent official policy.
His remarks come amid heightened tensions following repeated statements by President Donald Trump asserting that the United States needs control of Greenland for national security reasons. Trump has cited concerns over Russian and Chinese naval activity in the Arctic and the strategic importance of securing mineral resources. In early January, Trump reiterated that the U.S. “needs Greenland, absolutely,” and the White House confirmed that discussions are underway regarding a “range of options” to acquire the territory, explicitly stating that the use of the U.S. military “is always an option.”
European leaders have publicly rejected annexation. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that a U.S. attack on Greenland, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and a NATO member, would mean “the end of NATO” and the post–World War II security framework. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen dismissed annexation proposals as “fantasies” while calling for closer cooperation with the United States without a takeover.
France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Denmark have issued a joint statement affirming that Greenland belongs to its people and that Arctic security must be handled collectively.
Although Fehlinger’s statements do not reflect official European policy, they underscore the severity of the rhetoric emerging around Greenland and highlight how the dispute has escalated into open threats against long-standing U.S. military arrangements in Europe.d
