The White House says President Donald Trump views acquiring Greenland as a national security priority and that using the U.S. military is “always an option” as his team discusses ways to pursue the goal. The renewed push has triggered sharp reactions from Greenland’s leaders, European allies backing Denmark, and a growing group of Republicans who say the threats are wrong and risky.
Trump’s interest in Greenland has returned to the center of Washington’s agenda, with the White House confirming it is actively discussing options to acquire the Arctic island. In a statement to Reuters reported by India Today, the White House said Trump sees Greenland’s acquisition as a national security priority, citing increased geopolitical competition in the Arctic.
Greenland is an autonomous Danish territory, and the idea of it becoming part of the United States has been rejected repeatedly by Greenland, according to India Today. Denmark has also said in the past that Greenland is not for sale, the report said. Still, Trump has continued to talk about annexation, and the White House has not ruled out military involvement.
White House: Military “always an option”
In the statement quoted by India Today, the White House said the president and his advisers are reviewing multiple possible paths and that “utilising the US military is always an option at the commander-in-chief’s disposal” as discussions continue.
A senior U.S. official told Reuters, as reported by India Today, that discussions are active inside the Oval Office and include several alternatives. Those options include an outright U.S. purchase of Greenland or creating a Compact of Free Association, also called a COFA, with the territory. India Today reported that this type of arrangement would not make Greenland part of the United States, but would give Washington significant influence over defense and foreign policy matters.
No purchase price has been disclosed, India Today reported. The official also told Reuters that Trump’s interest has not faded, saying, “It’s not going away,” in reference to the president’s determination to keep pursuing the issue during the remaining three years of his term.
Trump points to Arctic security
India Today reported that Trump sees Greenland as a strategic outpost, especially as Russia and China expand their footprint in the region. The report said administration officials argue Greenland’s location is important to U.S. national security and necessary to deter adversaries in the Arctic.
India Today quoted Trump saying, “Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” and adding, “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.” The same report also quoted him saying, “We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence,” in an interview with The Atlantic.
Greenland and Denmark seek talks with Rubio
India Today reported that Greenland said it had asked, along with Denmark, for a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio after Trump renewed his claims. Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt wrote in a Facebook post that the goal of the meeting is to discuss “the significant statements made by the United States about Greenland,” according to India Today.
Motzfeldt also said it had not been possible for Rubio to meet with Greenland’s government despite requests from Greenlandic and Danish officials “throughout 2025,” India Today reported.
Europe pushes back in joint statement
The Times of India reported that European leaders moved to back Denmark and Greenland after comments from Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff and Trump’s immigration czar. According to the report, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Denmark, and the United Kingdom issued a rare joint statement saying: “Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
The joint statement also emphasized that security in the Arctic should be achieved collectively with NATO allies, including the United States, while upholding the U.N. Charter’s principles such as sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to the Times of India. The statement added: “The Kingdom of Denmark—including Greenland—is part of Nato,” the report said.
The Times of India also described stronger individual warnings from European leaders, including Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen saying any U.S. invasion of Greenland would mean the end of NATO. The report also said Germany’s foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, warned the United States would be at war with Europe if it seized Greenland and argued NATO members would have an obligation to defend Denmark if attacked.
Miller’s remarks add fuel to the dispute
The Times of India reported that Miller questioned Denmark’s right to Greenland in an interview on CNN while asserting it is the Trump administration’s formal position that the Danish realm should be part of the United States. The report quoted Miller saying: “By what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? What is the basis of their territorial claim? The United States is the power of Nato . For the US to secure the Arctic region, to protect and defend Nato and Nato interests, obviously Greenland should be part of the United States.”
The report said Miller repeatedly pushed back on questions about taking military force “off the table” and quoted him saying, “We wouldn’t need military action…nobody is gonna fight the US militarily over the future of Greenland.” The Times of India noted that Miller “scoffed” at Greenland’s “30,000 population,” while India Today described Greenland as having “a population of about 57,000,” highlighting differing figures reported in the two accounts.
Republicans publicly break with Trump
TIME reported that some prominent Republican lawmakers have publicly disagreed with Trump’s renewed annexation threats against Greenland, as he faces calls for impeachment from Democrats related to a Venezuela operation. TIME said Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen labeled Trump’s remarks “utterly unacceptable,” after Trump again argued Greenland should fall under U.S. jurisdiction and called it a “national security situation.”
TIME also reported that Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska criticized the approach, calling it “appalling” and saying Greenland is a NATO ally and Denmark is “one of our best friends.” TIME said Bacon told CNN, “We’re not going to acquire Greenland. I know most of those people in Greenland want to remain independent.”
According to TIME, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska warned that “any effort to claim or take the territory by force would degrade both our national security and our international relationships,” and said the U.S. should treat Greenland as an ally. TIME reported that Senate Majority Leader John Thune issued a bipartisan statement with Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen saying that when Denmark and Greenland make clear Greenland is not for sale, the United States must honor treaty obligations and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the NATO member.
