The White House has intensified its rhetoric around acquiring Greenland, openly acknowledging that the United States is considering a range of options — including potential military force — to bring the Arctic territory under U.S. control, according to multiple statements from senior officials.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump views Greenland as a “national security priority” and emphasized that “utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the Commander in Chief’s disposal.”. The administration argues that Greenland’s strategic location and growing geopolitical competition with Russia and China justify heightened U.S. interest.
Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark and part of the NATO alliance, has repeatedly rejected any proposal to join the United States. Danish and European leaders responded swiftly and forcefully, issuing a joint statement affirming that “Greenland belongs to its people” and warning that any attempt to seize the island would violate principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that purchasing Greenland remains the administration’s preferred approach, though he did not rule out military options when pressed by reporters. Senior adviser Stephen Miller went further, questioning Denmark’s basis for sovereignty over the island and asserting that Greenland “should be part of the United States.
The renewed push follows the U.S. military operation that removed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, an event that analysts say may have emboldened the administration’s posture toward territorial expansion. The White House has also cited concerns about Chinese and Russian activity in the Arctic, as well as Greenland’s mineral resources, though experts note that extraction would be costly and technically challenging.
Members of Congress — including Republicans — have expressed alarm at the suggestion of using force against a NATO ally. Senator John Kennedy called the idea “weapons-grade stupid,” warning that military action would undermine the alliance and destabilize Arctic security.
Greenlandic leaders and residents have voiced anger over the renewed U.S. pressure, reiterating their desire for self-determination and rejecting any form of annexation.
As diplomatic tensions rise, European and Canadian officials are coordinating visits and statements of support for Denmark and Greenland, underscoring the international stakes of the U.S. position.