Tensions are boiling over the Arctic as Spanish leader Pedro Sanchez issues a dire alert: a US bid to control Greenland via force would fracture NATO and hand Vladimir Putin a propaganda win on a silver platter. In his La Vanguardia interview published Sunday, Sanchez laid bare the risks, arguing that seizing the Danish autonomous region would legitimize Russia’s playbook in Ukraine, drawing parallels to the 2022 invasion that drew worldwide outrage.

‘This would set a perilous example,’ Sanchez said, predicting it would dilute NATO’s resolve against Moscow and make Putin ecstatic by exposing Western hypocrisy. At a fragile moment for international stability, such division could ease Russia’s path to dominating Ukraine.

The flashpoint ignited when Trump slapped tariff threats on eight EU nations backing Denmark, venting on Truth Social about years of US subsidies to Europe without returns. He highlighted China and Russia’s interest in Greenland’s strategic resources, deriding Denmark’s military as reliant on mere ‘dogsleds’—a jab at its limited capabilities.

UK PM Keir Starmer fired back on X, clarifying Britain’s stance: Greenland’s future belongs to its people and Denmark. He slammed the tariffs, urged NATO allies to unite on Arctic defense against Russia, and promised to confront Washington head-on.

Europe’s response escalated with an urgent EU ambassadors’ summit called by Cyprus late Saturday for Sunday. This emergency huddle among the bloc’s 27 nations underscores fears of a transatlantic rift. Observers note that Greenland’s melting ice opens vast mineral riches and military positioning, making it a powder keg in great-power rivalry. Sanchez’s outspoken critique highlights growing European pushback against unilateral US actions, potentially reshaping alliance dynamics for years.