Greenland, the world’s largest island and a self-governing territory of Denmark, has once again emerged at the center of an international debate over Arctic security and natural resources. The White House confirmed Tuesday that President Donald Trump continues to consider the possibility of bringing Greenland under U.S. control, even suggesting that military options remain on the table.
Strategically located off Canada’s northeastern coast, with more than two-thirds of its territory inside the Arctic Circle, Greenland has long been key to North American defense and global military strategy.
U.S. Signals Determination
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that acquiring Greenland remains a national security priority, particularly as tensions with China and Russia rise in the Arctic region.
“The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal,” Leavitt said. “Of course, utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal.”
Trump first floated the idea of purchasing Greenland during his first term. The proposal resurfaced following a U.S. military operation in Venezuela that saw President Nicolás Maduro captured, prompting renewed calls from the president for U.S. control of the mineral-rich, strategically vital island.
However, voices within and outside the U.S. government have cautioned against military action. Special envoy to Greenland Jeff Landry and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller have suggested that negotiation, rather than force, would be sufficient. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also said taking military action would not be appropriate.
International Pushback and Greenlandic Sovereignty
The White House announcement prompted a swift response from international allies. Leaders from Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement affirming that Greenland “belongs to its people.” The statement emphasized that only Denmark and Greenland can determine the island’s future, underscoring its NATO membership and strategic importance.
Canada also voiced support for Greenland’s sovereignty. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced an upcoming visit by Governor General Mary Simon, who is of Inuit descent, and Foreign Minister Anita Anand. “The future of Greenland and Denmark are decided solely by the people of Denmark,” Carney said, standing alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Jeff Landry, the U.S. envoy, said he wants to speak directly with Greenlanders about opportunities to improve their quality of life, bypassing European diplomats or Danish officials. “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,” he joked on a radio show.
Greenland’s Strategic and Economic Value
Greenland’s importance goes beyond politics. The U.S. Department of Defense operates the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, constructed under a 1951 defense agreement with Denmark. The base supports missile warning, missile defense, and space surveillance for both the U.S. and NATO.
The island guards part of the GIUK Gap—Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom—a critical corridor for monitoring Russian naval movements in the North Atlantic. Greenland also holds rich deposits of rare earth minerals, essential for electronics, batteries, and renewable energy technologies. Potential offshore oil and natural gas reserves have also been identified by the U.S. Geological Survey.
While Greenland has enjoyed expanded self-rule since 2009 and retains a legal path to full independence, most Greenlanders have not indicated an interest in joining the United States. For now, the island’s people remain the ultimate decision-makers, even as global powers weigh its strategic and economic significance.
