Greenland’s strategic location and vast natural resources have once again pushed the Arctic island into the global spotlight, after the White House said the use of the US military remains an option in President Donald Trump’s renewed push to bring the territory under American control.
Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, sits off Canada’s northeastern coast. More than two-thirds of the island lies within the Arctic Circle, a position that has made it central to North American defence planning since World War II.
White House Keeps Military Option on the Table
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said late Tuesday that Trump views acquiring Greenland as a national security priority, particularly as competition intensifies in the Arctic.
“The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal,” Leavitt said, adding that “utilising the US military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal.”
Trump first floated the idea of buying Greenland during his first term. The proposal resurfaced after a recent US military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with Trump now arguing that Greenland is vital to counter growing Chinese and Russian activity in the region.
Leavitt’s remarks marked a sharper tone than comments from Trump’s special envoy to Greenland, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, both of whom previously suggested military force would not be necessary. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also rejected the idea, saying military action would be inappropriate.
Allies Push Back as Sovereignty Questioned
The White House comments prompted swift responses from US allies. Leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in issuing a joint statement affirming that Greenland “belongs to its people.”
“Greenland belongs to its people,” the statement said. “It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
Canada also weighed in, with Prime Minister Mark Carney voicing support for Denmark and announcing that Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon, who is of Inuit descent, and Foreign Minister Anita Anand will visit Greenland next month.
Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen have firmly rejected Trump’s proposal, warning that a US takeover would undermine NATO unity. Still, Stephen Miller insisted this week that Greenland should be part of the United States’ security framework, questioning Denmark’s historical claim over the territory while downplaying the likelihood of armed conflict.
“Nobody is going to fight the US militarily over the future of Greenland,” Miller said.
Why Greenland Matters So Much
Greenland was a Danish colony for centuries before becoming an integral part of the kingdom in 1953. While Denmark retains control over foreign and defence policy, Greenland gained expanded self-rule in 2009, including the right to seek independence under international law. Polls suggest many Greenlanders favor eventual independence, though opinions vary on how quickly that should happen.
The island’s strategic value is significant. The US operates the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, a key installation for missile warning, missile defence and space surveillance for both the US and NATO. Greenland also forms part of the GIUK Gap, a critical maritime corridor where NATO monitors Russian naval movements in the North Atlantic.
Beyond military considerations, Greenland holds large deposits of rare earth minerals essential for modern technologies such as smartphones, electric vehicle batteries, and renewable energy systems. The US Geological Survey has also identified potential offshore oil and natural gas reserves, adding to the island’s geopolitical importance.
As global competition intensifies in the Arctic, Greenland’s future is increasingly tied to the balance of power between major nations. For now, Denmark and Greenland insist that any decision about the island’s destiny rests with its people alone.
