WASHINGTON, DC (LOOTPRESS) – The Trump administration said Tuesday that White House officials are weighing a broad array of options to pursue control of Greenland — including the possibility of using the U.S. military to enforce a takeover if necessary.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that senior administration officials are discussing strategic moves ranging from negotiated acquisition of Greenland from Denmark to the creation of a compact of free association, a status that would grant the United States strategic access without full sovereignty over the Arctic island. Leavitt emphasized that President Trump considers control of Greenland a “national security priority” amid heightened geopolitical competition in the Arctic.
“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region,” Leavitt said. “The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal.”
President Trump has set a goal of resolving the issue before the end of his term, administration officials said, renewing a longstanding but previously dormant U.S. interest in the semi-autonomous Danish territory. Reuters first reported the developments.
European Leaders, Allies Push Back
The renewed White House push drew rapid pushback from European allies. Leaders from major European powers and Canada issued statements emphasizing that Greenland — a territory of the Kingdom of Denmark — must decide its own future and reaffirmed support for Danish sovereignty.
European officials described the territory as integral to the security and cooperation of NATO and stressed that solutions for Arctic security should be based on collective effort, not unilateral action by Washington.
Critics also warned that any U.S. military move against an allied NATO country could have far-reaching consequences for transatlantic security. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said a U.S. military attempt to take control of Greenland would effectively end the NATO alliance — a longstanding security pact between the United States and Denmark.
Greenland’s Leaders Respond
The premier of Greenland has condemned suggestions of forced acquisition, reaffirming that residents and leaders want their right to self-determination respected. Greenland’s government has repeatedly stated it does not wish to become part of the United States and seeks to resolve any political differences through diplomacy and cooperation.
Strategic Importance in the Arctic
Analysts say the island’s strategic location — rich in resources and positioned amid increasing activity by Russia and China — makes it a focal point for global geopolitical competition. The United States already maintains a military presence on the island under long-standing defense agreements with Denmark.
As debate continues, leaders on both sides of the Atlantic are weighing diplomatic, economic and security implications of the White House’s assertive remarks — even as wariness grows over rhetoric that could strain alliances forged over decades of shared defense commitments.
