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By Dan Gooding and Gabe Whisnant
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The Trump administration said Tuesday it is exploring ways to acquire Greenland, calling the effort a “national security priority” and noting that using U.S. military force remains an option.
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“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 told Newsweek. "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.”
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Why It Matters
Following U.S. military action in Venezuela over the weekend, during which President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and taken to New York, Trump and close allies have floated the idea of similar actions in other countries, including Cuba, Colombia and Greenland. U.S. allies have warned against further action, particularly when it comes to Greenland, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
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What To Know
Officials said President Donald Trump and his team are weighing options, including purchasing the territory or forming a compact of free association with the island. A senior U.S. official told Reuters that Trump wants the United States to secure Greenland during his current term, despite objections from NATO allies, and said the issue “is not going away.”
The statement from the White House appeared to conflict with Secretary of State Marco Rubio's comment during a closed briefing with lawmakers Monday, per The Wall Street Journal, that the Trump administration was looking to buy Greenland rather than invade it. Purchasing the Danish territory was an endeavor floated by Trump during his first term.
Earlier Tuesday, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in a joint statement pushing back against a U.S. takeover and affirming the island's sovereignty.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also threw his support behind Greenland, announcing a visit to the neighboring country early next month.
The White House has insisted that running Greenland would be in the interest of U.S. national security, with Trump saying Sunday that threats from China and Russia were part of that reasoning. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller cast doubt on Denmark's claim on the land in an interview on Monday.
Trump had appeared to want to push the Greenland issue back when speaking on Air Force One at the weekend, saying "let's talk about Greenland in 20 days," but Tuesday's statement from the White House made clear the issue was not far from the minds of the president or his top officials.
Frederiksen said Monday that if the U.S. decided to attack a fellow NATO country, then "everything stops," referring to NATO itself and the security it provides.
What People Are Saying
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, on Monday night: “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."
United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, on Monday: “Let me be very clear on the UK position. Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, our close European partners and longstanding NATO allies. And all our countries work closely together on security issues and will always do so. The future of Greenland is a matter for the Greenlanders and Danes and no one else.”
Trump, aboard Air Force One on Sunday: “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security and the European Union needs us to have it and they know that."
What Happens Next
Senator Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, has introduced an amendment to block U.S. military action in Greenland. Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether growing concerns from foreign leaders will affect Trump's decision-making on further action regarding the Arctic island.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
Update 1/6/26, 6:09 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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