Brussels, Belgium - NATO is reportedly mulling a proposal to Donald Trump for a major expansion of the allied military presence in the Arctic to ease tensions caused by the US president's fixation with annexing Greenland.

Trump has repeatedly cited US security concerns in his crusade to acquire Greenland, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark.

According to sources who spoke to the dpa, NATO believes strengthening its presence in the Arctic could address US interests while enabling its participation in the initiative.

Trump's views on Greenland are seen as valid, the sources say, particularly in light of Russian and Chinese activities in the region.

Donald Trump Trump sends envoy on surprise trip to deliver message for Venezuela's Maduro

Greenland holds significant strategic value – not only for its vast natural resources but also as a key location for military control of the Arctic. Climate change is also making Arctic shipping routes more accessible, particularly in the summer months.

According to alliance sources, the initiative is currently being discussed informally.

The proposed military expansion could be based on defense plans adopted in 2023. The classified documents outline measures to bolster deterrence and defense capabilities in the far north.

The US already maintains a presence in Greenland through the Pituffik Space Base, operated under agreements with Denmark. This base plays a critical role in missile warning systems, missile defense, and space surveillance operations.

Danish military personnel is also stationed in Greenland, primarily through the Arctic Command in Nuuk.

Trump's hostile remarks have raised concerns among NATO allies, since he has not ruled out using economic or military means to seize Greenland.

NATO ally Denmark insists that the island's people should decide their own future.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has held a series of crisis talks with other European NATO leaders, while Greenland's government has made it clear that it wants to remain neither Danish nor American, but Greenlandic.

Donald Trump Trump accused of lying after claiming the military "turned on the water" in California

For NATO, the Greenland debate is particularly delicate. The alliance risks damaging its credibility if a leading member threatens to seize territory from another ally – especially against the backdrop of Russia's war in Ukraine and China's territorial claims over Taiwan.

At the same time, a worst-case scenario would be a US withdrawal from NATO over the dispute, given that the alliance's deterrence relies heavily on US nuclear and conventional military power.

Diplomats believe the success of NATO's initiative will depend on whether Trump's primary focus is genuinely on security concerns. If his interest in Greenland is also driven by its raw material deposits, the proposal could be doomed to failure.