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 against some of the United States' closest allies.

Islam stated that the threat, delivered with little warning, targets allies over an issue that could potentially fracture NATO and the Western alliance. He added that officials from the targeted countries are likely "baffled" by the outlandish nature of the proposition.

The idea of acquiring an ally's land is so unconventional that many doubt its feasibility, Islam noted, questioning whether Trump has the necessary support within the U.S. Congress or even his own administration.

This latest development follows a series of unusual economic threats from President Trump over the past year, but Islam believes this one "exceeds all of them, and takes us into both surreal and utterly dangerous territory."

The concept of economic coercion in international relations is not new, but Trump's alleged approach is considered unique due to its directness and the fact that it targets long-standing allies. The situation raises questions about the future of transatlantic relations and the stability of existing international alliances.

The U.S. State Department has yet to officially comment on the matter. The Danish government has previously stated that Greenland is not for sale. The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected as officials from the involved countries assess the implications of Trump's alleged threat.