As an American veteran..

As an American military combat veteran who served in Afghanistan during the surge of 2010 and 2011, I have witnessed firsthand the cost of war - both in terms of human lives and the lasting political and social consequences. The recent rhetoric about potentially using military force to forcibly acquire Greenland is something I simply cannot wrap my head around and I know millions of Americans feel the same way.

The economic, social and political ramifications of such an action would be catastrophic. It would not only alienate our closest allies but also destabilize global relations on a scale we’ve never seen. The loss of trust from NATO, the European Union and other partners would leave the U.S. isolated, economically vulnerable and diplomatically ostracized.

From a strategic perspective, the foothold that nations like China and Russia could take in response to such a move would be overwhelming. This kind of unilateral aggression would open doors for them to consolidate power, expand influence and challenge the global order in ways that would threaten U.S. national security for decades.

But beyond strategy and politics, the human cost is what strikes me the most. As a veteran, I’ve served alongside brave men and women who put their lives on the line for what we believed were just causes. I cannot fathom sending our military into another unnecessary conflict, one that would likely lead to countless casualties on all sides for objectives that fly in the face of American values.

Our role as a nation should be to lead by example, to stand for diplomacy, cooperation and the rule of law. I cannot support any rhetoric or policy that suggests otherwise.

I hope this post serves as a reminder of what is truly at stake - not just for Greenland or other nations but for our own identity as Americans. War is not a game. Its consequences are real, devastating and often irreversible.

Let’s not allow fear or political theater to dictate the future of our nation. Let’s stand for peace, for diplomacy and for the ideals we’ve fought to defend.