White House Refuses to Rule Out Military Force to Acquire Greenland

European leaders unite in forceful rejection of Trump’s territorial ambitions, reaffirming Danish sovereignty over the Arctic territory.

In a sharp escalation of rhetoric, the White House has declared that using the U.S. military to acquire Greenland is “always an option.” The statement comes amid a united European pushback against President Donald Trump’s renewed ambitions to take control of the Arctic territory.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Tuesday that acquiring Greenland is a "national security priority" and that the administration is discussing "a range of options" to achieve it, with military force remaining on the table.

The assertion triggered a swift and coordinated response from European leaders. In a joint statement, the leaders of France, Germany, Britain, and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen firmly defended Danish sovereignty, stating: “Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”

Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, urged Trump to abandon his “fantasies about annexation,” calling the U.S. rhetoric “completely and utterly unacceptable.”

Tensions have mounted since Trump revived his interest in Greenland following the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Trump has cited national security and the strategic importance of countering rivals like Russia and China in the Arctic as justification, despite the U.S. already operating a base on the island.

While some U.S. congressional Republicans sought to downplay the likelihood of military action, Democrats warned the threats should be taken seriously. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced legislation to block funding for any hostilities against Greenland, accusing the president of treating the military "like a toy."

The strong European rebuke marks a shift from previous years, when leaders often dismissed or joked about Trump’s interest in Greenland, indicating that his administration’s recent actions have heightened alarm among allies.