U.S. President Donald Trump's alleged threat to inflict economic harm on Western allies if they opposed his plan to annex Greenland is unprecedented, according to Faisal Islam, economics editor. The purported threat, which surfaced Saturday, has been described as a form of economic warfare levied by the White House on its closest allies.

Islam stated that these actions target allies with little warning and for a cause that could potentially fracture NATO and the Western alliance. He added that officials from the targeted countries are likely to be more bewildered than angered by the outlandish nature of the threat.

The notion of acquiring land from an ally through such means is considered highly improbable, raising questions about the level of support Trump has within the U.S., including Congress and his own administration, for such a proposition, Islam noted.

The incident adds to a series of unusual economic threats issued by President Trump over the past year, but this particular instance is seen as exceeding all previous ones, venturing into what Islam described as "surreal and utterly dangerous territory."

The potential ramifications of such a threat extend beyond mere economic considerations, potentially impacting diplomatic relations and the stability of international alliances. The situation remains fluid, and the response from the affected countries and international organizations is yet to be fully determined.