The United States is openly discussing ways to acquire Greenland, including the possible use of military force, according to a statement from the White House. Officials described the Arctic island as a major national security priority for the US.
Greenland is a semi autonomous territory of Denmark, which is also a NATO ally. The comments came shortly after several European leaders publicly backed Denmark and rejected any US claims over the island.
President Donald Trump has repeated in recent days that the US needs Greenland for security reasons. His remarks have raised alarm across Europe. Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that a US attack on Greenland would effectively end NATO as it currently exists.
White House Confirms Military Option Is Being Discussed
In a statement given to the BBC, the White House said the president and his advisers are reviewing several paths to achieve this foreign policy goal. It added that the use of the US military is always an option available to the commander in chief.
NATO is a trans Atlantic military alliance that requires member states to defend one another if attacked. Any conflict involving Greenland would place the US in direct opposition to fellow NATO members.
US Officials Say Invasion Is Not the Preferred Plan
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers during a closed briefing on Capitol Hill that the administration does not currently plan to invade Greenland. Instead, he discussed the possibility of purchasing the island from Denmark, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal and other US outlets.
A State Department spokesperson later told the BBC that the US wants to build long term business relationships that benefit both Americans and the people of Greenland.
The spokesperson also pointed to rising activity by shared adversaries in the Arctic, saying this is a concern for the US, Denmark, and other NATO allies.
Europe Stands Firm Behind Denmark
Denmark and Greenland have requested urgent talks with Rubio to address the situation. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said discussions should help clear up misunderstandings.
On Tuesday, six European countries joined Denmark in a joint statement of support. Leaders from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Denmark said Greenland belongs to its people and that only Denmark and Greenland can decide their future relationship.
They stressed that Arctic security should be handled collectively by NATO allies and in line with international law. The statement also called for respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and protected borders under the UN Charter.
Tensions Rise After Venezuela Operation
The debate over Greenland intensified after a recent US military operation in Venezuela, where elite forces captured President Nicolas Maduro and brought him to New York on drug and weapons charges.
Shortly after the operation, Katie Miller, the wife of a senior Trump adviser, shared a social media post showing Greenland colored like the US flag with the word soon written across it.
Her husband, Stephen Miller, later said it is the formal position of the US government that Greenland should become part of the United States.
Greenlanders Push Back Against US Claims
Greenland has a population of around 57,000 and has enjoyed extensive self rule since 1979. Denmark still controls defense and foreign policy.
While many Greenlanders support eventual independence, polls show strong opposition to becoming part of the US, even though the US already operates a military base on the island.
Morgan Angaju, a 27 year old Inuit resident from Ilulissat, told the BBC the situation felt frightening. He said Greenland is already claimed by its own people and expressed fear about what could happen next, including the possibility of invasion.
Strategic Value Drives US Interest
A senior US official told Reuters that options include buying Greenland outright or forming a Compact of Free Association. This type of deal would trade military access for economic support.
Republican Senator Eric Schmitt said national security is the driving force behind US interest. Trump first raised the idea of acquiring Greenland during his first term in 2019, calling it a real estate deal.
Interest in Greenland has grown due to increased attention from Russia and China, large untapped rare earth resources, and new shipping routes opening as Arctic ice melts.
In March, Trump said the US would go as far as necessary to gain control of the territory. Last summer, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Pentagon has plans for all possible scenarios.
