US President Donald Trump is openly discussing options including potential military action, to take control of Greenland, according to the White House, triggering sharp warnings from Denmark and NATO allies.
The renewed focus on Greenland follows a recent US military operation in Venezuela, which analysts say has emboldened Trump’s foreign policy ambitions.
White House Calls Greenland a ‘National Security Priority’
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that acquiring Greenland is viewed by Trump as a strategic national security priority, aimed at countering rivals such as Russia and China in the Arctic region.
She said Trump and his advisers are reviewing a range of options, adding that “utilising the US military is always an option available to the commander in chief.”
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Purchase Preferred, But Threats Alarm Allies
According to The Wall Street Journal, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that Trump’s preferred approach remains purchasing Greenland from Denmark, rather than immediate force.
However, Denmark has warned that any attempt to seize Greenland militarily would effectively collapse NATO, as Article Five obligates alliance members to defend one another against attacks.
Denmark and Greenland Push Back Strongly
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reiterated that the island is not for sale, stressing that only Greenland’s 57,000 residents have the right to decide their future.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Copenhagen is seeking urgent talks with Washington to clarify misunderstandings, while Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt said repeated requests for meetings throughout 2025 went unanswered.
Allies Rally Around Denmark
European powers including Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain issued a joint statement backing Denmark and Greenland, affirming the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolable borders.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he could not imagine the US violating Danish sovereignty, while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stressed that Greenland’s future lies solely with its people.
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US Military Already Present in Greenland
The United States currently operates the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, with around 150 US military personnel stationed there.
Despite this long-standing presence, Greenland residents have expressed anger over Trump’s rhetoric. Christian Keldsen, head of the Greenland Business Association, said such threats are “not acceptable in the civilized world.”
Arctic Experts Warn of Long-Term Fallout
Security experts note that Trump has floated the idea of annexing Greenland since his first term. Arctic analyst Marc Jacobsen described the renewed push as “a broken record” that risks destabilising decades of Arctic diplomacy.
Meanwhile, Denmark has significantly boosted security spending, allocating 90 billion kroner ($14 billion) over the past year amid rising tensions.
