The White House said on Tuesday that the use of the US military is “always an option” as President Donald Trump and his advisers consider ways to acquire Greenland, prompting sharp pushback from European leaders.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump views acquiring Greenland as a national security priority and that his team is discussing a range of options to pursue the goal. She said deterring adversaries in the Arctic region was vital and that the military remained at the commander in chief’s disposal.
European leaders responded with a joint statement alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, urging the United States to respect Denmark’s sovereignty. The statement said Arctic security was a priority for Nato and stressed that Greenland belongs to its people, with decisions concerning its future to be made only by Denmark and Greenland.
Greenland’s government said it had requested an urgent meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Greenland’s foreign minister Vivian Motzfeldt, and Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen to discuss US claims about the territory. Rasmussen said Denmark and Greenland wanted to correct assertions by Trump, including claims of extensive Russian and Chinese activity around Greenland.
Denmark’s defence minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, said Denmark had spent billions to strengthen security in Greenland, rejecting Trump’s claim that it had done little. Frederiksen warned earlier that a US attack on a Nato ally would undermine the alliance and post-war security order.
Trump renewed calls for a US takeover of Greenland following the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, saying he needed the territory badly. Greenland has repeatedly said it does not want to be part of the United States, and a US poll found only 7 percent of Americans support a military seizure.
Senior US Republicans sought to downplay the likelihood of force, while Democrats warned Trump’s remarks should be taken seriously.