Trump weighs military option to acquire Greenland, raising global alarm

The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump is considering a range of options to acquire Greenland, including the possible use of the United States military, a proposal that has stirred deep unease among allies and raised fresh questions about transatlantic relations.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that acquiring Greenland is viewed by Trump as a “national security priority” intended to deter rival powers like Russia and China from gaining ground in the Arctic. Leavitt told reporters the administration is discussing a spectrum of approaches and that “utilising the US military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal.”

The idea of military action, even as a theoretical scenario, has alarmed Denmark, Greenland and NATO partners. Danish officials have stressed that Greenland is not for sale and that any attempt to seize it by force would undermine decades of alliance cooperation and mutual defence commitments.

Denmark’s Foreign Minister has urged calm and dialogue, calling for clearer communication with US counterparts about the intentions behind Washington’s renewed interest in the Arctic territory. Meanwhile, Greenland’s government insisted that decisions about its future must be made by its 57 000 residents, not imposed externally.

European leaders have rallied behind Denmark and Greenland, with statements emphasising respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity as foundational principles of international law. Britain, France, Germany and other NATO members reiterated that Arctic security must be addressed through cooperative frameworks rather than unilateral moves.

Secretary of State discussions reported in US media indicate that Trump’s preferred method remains a diplomatic purchase from Denmark, though that option has also been firmly rejected. Analysts say the military rhetoric poses risks to NATO cohesion, given that Greenland is part of the Danish kingdom and protected under the alliance’s collective defence obligations.

In Greenland, reactions have been swift and critical. Local officials and residents have uniformly rejected suggestions that the territory could become part of the United States, and have called for respect for their autonomy within the Danish realm. European capitals, while seeking to avoid direct confrontation with Washington, have underscored that any attempt to alter Greenland’s status without consent would breach long-standing norms of sovereignty.