After US action in Venezuela, White House keeps military option open on Greenland takeover

The White House said on Tuesday that “U.S. military is always an option,” even as European leaders dismissed Trump’s comments about taking over the world’s largest island.

“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,” White House press secretary Karoline 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.”

The statement marked a shift in tone after Trump’s special envoy to Greenland and deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller had earlier suggested military action would not be needed. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also distanced himself, saying, “No. I don't think it's appropriate.”

European leaders reaffirm Greenland’s sovereignty

France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in issuing a joint statement asserting that the mineral-rich Arctic island “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.”

Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and part of the NATO alliance.

Canada backs Denmark, announces Greenland visit

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney voiced support for Denmark and announced that Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon and Foreign Minister Anita Anand would visit Greenland early next month.

“The future of Greenland and Denmark are decided solely by the people of Denmark,” Carney said, standing alongside Frederiksen at the Canadian Embassy in Paris.

US envoy seeks direct talks with Greenlanders

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, appointed last month by Trump as US special envoy to Greenland, said he was not interested in engaging with Danish officials or European diplomats.

Instead, he said he wanted direct conversations with Greenland residents.

“I want to talk to people who want an opportunity to improve the quality of life in Greenland,” Landry said on a Fox News radio show.

Landry said he had already exchanged emails with Greenlanders and added, “They tell me they like to hunt, they like to fish, they like to have a good time. I’m like, y’all belong in Louisiana. I’m gonna call it culinary diplomacy.”

Miller backs US claim, downplays conflict

Stephen Miller said on Monday that Greenland should be part of the United States despite Frederiksen’s warning that a takeover would end NATO.

“The president has been clear for months now that the United States should be the nation that has Greenland as part of our overall security apparatus,” Miller said in an interview with CNN.

He questioned Denmark’s authority over the territory, asking, “What is the basis of their territorial claim. What is their basis of having Greenland as a colony of Denmark?”

At the same time, Miller sought to play down fears of armed conflict.

“There is no need to even think or talk about this in the context that you are asking, of a military operation. Nobody is going to fight the U.S. militarily over the future of Greenland,” he said.

Trump cites China and Russia threat

Trump has floated the idea of buying Greenland since his first term. After recent US military action in Venezuela, he revived the proposal, arguing it was vital for security.

“It’s so strategic right now,” Trump told reporters on Sunday.

“Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” he said.

“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”

Danish and Greenlandic leaders have firmly rejected the claims.

Denmark and Greenland warn of NATO consequences

Frederiksen said Trump’s remarks “should be taken seriously”.

“If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops,” she told Danish broadcaster TV2.

“That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War.”

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stressed the importance of cooperation.

“We are not in a situation where we think that there might be a takeover of the country overnight and that is why we are insisting that we want good cooperation,” he said.

Strategic importance of Greenland

Greenland, off Canada’s northeastern coast, has more than two-thirds of its territory inside the Arctic Circle, making it strategically significant since World War II.

The US operates the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland under a 1951 defence agreement with Denmark. The base supports missile warning, missile defence and space surveillance for the US and NATO.

The island also guards part of the GIUK Gap — Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom — a key NATO monitoring zone for Russian naval movements.

Greenland holds large reserves of rare earth minerals vital for electronics and renewable energy technologies. The US Geological Survey has also identified potential offshore oil and gas deposits.

Social media post fuels Danish fears

Concerns escalated after a weekend social media post by Katie Miller, Stephen Miller’s wife, who shared an illustrated map of Greenland in US flag colours with the caption: “SOON.”

Trump’s comment on Sunday — “let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days” — deepened fears in Denmark of a near-term intervention.

US lawmakers urge restraint

US Representatives Steny H. Hoyer and Blake Moore, co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Denmark Caucus, urged calm.

“Sabre-rattling about annexing Greenland is needlessly dangerous,” they said.

“An attack on Greenland — a crucial part of that alliance — would tragically be an attack on NATO.”

They added that the US already had extensive access.

“We already have access to everything we could need from Greenland,” the lawmakers said, noting Denmark had allowed additional US deployments and missile defence infrastructure.

Expert questions threat claims

Ulrik Pram Gad, a global security expert at the Danish Institute for International Studies, challenged Trump’s assessment.

“There are indeed Russian and Chinese ships in the Arctic, but these vessels are too far away to see from Greenland with or without binoculars,” he wrote.