The White House has said that the use of the US military remains a possible option as President Donald Trump revives his controversial push to bring Greenland under American control, arguing the Arctic island is vital to US national security.
Trump first floated the idea of buying Greenland during his initial term in office, but has renewed the call following a recent US military operation abroad, saying Washington must act to counter growing Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic.
Trump Administration Signals Hard Line on Greenland
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump sees Greenland as a strategic priority and believes the United States must take steps to secure its interests in the region.
“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States,” Leavitt said, adding that deterring adversaries in the Arctic is a key concern. She said the administration is considering a range of options, noting that “utilising the US military is always an option” available to the president.
Her remarks drew attention because other senior Trump allies have recently played down the idea of military action. Trump’s newly appointed special envoy to Greenland, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller have both suggested that force would not be necessary. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also said he does not believe military action in Greenland would be appropriate.
Allies Push Back as Denmark Defends Sovereignty
The White House comments prompted a strong response from European leaders. France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in issuing a statement reaffirming that Greenland belongs to its people.
“Greenland belongs to its people,” the statement said, stressing that decisions about the island can only be made by Denmark and Greenland themselves. Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and a part of the NATO alliance.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also voiced support for Denmark and Greenland, announcing that Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon and Foreign Minister Anita Anand will visit Greenland early next month. Carney said the future of Greenland should be decided solely by the people of Denmark and Greenland.
Despite the pushback, Landry has said he is not interested in negotiating with Danish or European officials. Instead, he wants direct conversations with Greenlanders themselves, saying he hopes to appeal to those looking to improve living standards on the island. He claimed some Greenland residents have already contacted him and joked about bonding over shared interests like hunting and fishing.
Why Greenland Matters Strategically
Trump and his advisers argue Greenland is essential to US security as competition intensifies in the Arctic. The island sits northeast of Canada, with more than two-thirds of its territory inside the Arctic Circle, a location that has been strategically important since World War II.
The United States operates the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland under a long-standing defence agreement with Denmark. The base plays a key role in missile warning, missile defence and space surveillance for both the US and NATO. Greenland also overlooks part of the GIUK Gap, a critical maritime corridor where NATO monitors Russian naval movements in the North Atlantic.
Beyond military considerations, Greenland is rich in natural resources. It holds significant deposits of rare earth minerals used in electronics, renewable energy technologies and batteries. US surveys have also identified potential offshore oil and gas reserves.
Greenland was a Danish colony for centuries and became an integral part of Denmark in 1953. A 2009 law expanded self-rule and recognised Greenland’s right to independence under international law, an option that opinion polls suggest many Greenlanders support.
Both Denmark and Greenland’s leaders have firmly rejected Trump’s renewed push, warning that a US takeover would undermine NATO unity. Still, the White House has made clear it does not intend to shift its position, keeping Greenland firmly in the spotlight as a flashpoint in Arctic geopolitics.
