The White House has said that using the US military is “always an option” as President Donald Trump renews his controversial push to bring Greenland under American control, citing national security concerns in the rapidly warming Arctic.
Greenland, a vast, mineral-rich island northeast of Canada, has long been strategically important to North American defence. More than two-thirds of its territory lies within the Arctic Circle, a location that has drawn increasing attention as global powers compete for influence in the region.
Trump Renews Calls for US Control
Trump first floated the idea of purchasing Greenland during his initial term in office, but the proposal was widely dismissed at the time. Following a recent US military operation that led to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the former president has revived the idea, arguing that Greenland is essential to counter growing Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic.
“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said late Tuesday. She added that while officials are considering a range of options, “utilising the US military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal.”
Her remarks stood in contrast to comments from Trump’s newly appointed special envoy to Greenland, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, both of whom have suggested military force would not be necessary. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also said he did not believe military action would be appropriate.
Allies Push Back and Defend Sovereignty
Trump’s renewed rhetoric has drawn swift backlash from US allies. Leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in a joint statement reaffirming that Greenland “belongs to its people.”
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and part of the NATO alliance. “It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland,” the statement said.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also voiced support for Denmark and Greenland, announcing an upcoming visit to the island by Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon and Foreign Minister Anita Anand. Standing alongside Frederiksen in Paris, Carney said decisions about Greenland’s future rest solely with the people of Denmark and Greenland.
Despite the criticism, Trump’s allies have doubled down. Miller said the United States should control Greenland as part of its broader security strategy, dismissing concerns that such a move could fracture NATO. He also questioned Denmark’s historical claim to the island, though he insisted there was no need to frame the issue in terms of armed intervention.
Why Greenland Matters Strategically
Greenland’s importance goes far beyond symbolism. The island has played a key role in North American defence since World War II, and the US still operates the Pituffik Space Base in its northwest under a 1951 defence agreement with Denmark. The base supports missile warning, missile defence and space surveillance operations for both the US and NATO.
Greenland also sits along the so-called GIUK Gap — a critical maritime corridor between Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom that NATO uses to monitor Russian naval movements in the North Atlantic.
Beyond military considerations, Greenland holds vast deposits of rare earth minerals vital for electronics, renewable energy technologies and electric vehicle batteries. The US Geological Survey has also identified potential offshore oil and gas reserves, adding to the island’s economic and strategic appeal.
While Trump argues the US must act to secure Greenland against rival powers, both Denmark and Greenland’s leaders have firmly rejected any suggestion of a takeover. With Arctic competition intensifying, the dispute underscores growing tensions between strategic ambition, alliance politics and the right of self-determination.
