Maps
Magazine

WORLD NEWS

US Raises Prospect of Taking Greenland, Europe and Canada Rally in Support of Island
US President Trump calls Greenland a national security priority, hinting at possible military options. European and Canadian leaders reaffirm Greenland’s sovereignty.
ND
by News Desk
2026-01-07
US Raises Prospect of Taking Greenland, Europe and Canada Rally in Support of Island

The United States has signaled that military force is a potential option to acquire Greenland, a Danish territory, sparking strong reactions from Europe and Canada asserting that the island belongs to its people.

In a statement on Tuesday, the White House said President Donald Trump considers acquiring Greenland vital for national security, citing the need to deter adversaries in the Arctic. “The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the US military is always an option at the commander-in-chief’s disposal,” it added.

Trump’s remarks have alarmed European leaders and NATO allies. France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in declaring that Greenland “belongs to its people,” emphasizing that decisions concerning Greenland rest solely with Denmark and its residents. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also voiced support, planning a visit to Greenland by senior officials, including the Governor General Mary Simon and Foreign Minister Anita Anand.

Nordic foreign ministers — from Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark — reaffirmed Greenland’s right to self-determination and highlighted increased investments in Arctic security in consultation with NATO allies. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that threats against a NATO member could undermine the alliance’s credibility.

Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen welcomed the pledge of solidarity from European leaders and called for “respectful dialogue” with the US. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen rejected Trump’s claims that Greenland is vulnerable or dominated by Chinese investments.

The interest in Greenland, initially raised by Trump in 2019, has resurfaced following the US’s recent abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, which Trump cited as an example of American power projection. White House officials have stated that the goal is to purchase Greenland from Denmark, though some rhetoric about military options has caused concern among allies.

US officials, including Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff, stressed that global relations are “governed by strength and power,” dismissing concerns over Danish sovereignty. Meanwhile, US lawmakers from both parties, including Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis, urged the administration to respect Greenland’s territorial integrity.

Analysts warn that any US attempt to take Greenland by force would upend post-World War II principles of national self-determination, strain NATO, and represent a dramatic shift in US foreign policy. Melinda Haring, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said such a move would signify a return to a “might makes right” world, undermining international norms.

Greenland, the world’s largest island with a population of just 57,000, hosts the US Pituffik Space Base, strategically important for missile defense. Its mineral wealth has also drawn US interest amid efforts to reduce reliance on Chinese imports.

The situation continues to evolve, with Greenland, Denmark, and European allies emphasizing diplomacy and self-determination, while the US administration maintains that acquiring Greenland remains a strategic national security objective.
Tagged:

NATO

denmark

USForeignPolicy

Greenland

ArcticSecurity
Share News: