Bloomberg Talks Former US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns Talks Push for Greenland
Jan 8, 2026
Nicholas Burns, a seasoned diplomat and former U.S. ambassador to China, dives into President Trump's controversial push to purchase Greenland. He discusses Denmark's stark warning that such a move could jeopardize NATO's unity. Burns stresses the importance of respectful diplomacy over threats to secure U.S. interests in Greenland, while outlining the strategic competition in the Arctic against Russia and China's growing influence. He also emphasizes the need for a robust U.S. economic strategy in Latin America to counter China's positioning.
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Threats Against Allies Undermine NATO
- Threatening force against a NATO ally over Greenland risks tearing the alliance apart.
- Nicholas Burns stresses we can achieve strategic aims by cooperating with Denmark rather than issuing “colossally ignorant” threats.
Rhetoric Alone Harms Alliances
- Public mentions that 'force is on the table' damage relations even if invasion is unlikely.
- Burns says such rhetoric has upset Denmark and Europe despite low invasion probability.
Use Allies To Strengthen Arctic Presence
- Work with Denmark and other northern NATO members to expand U.S. military presence in Greenland.
- Nicholas Burns advises pursuing allied cooperation instead of unilateral or belligerent actions to secure strategic positioning.