Trump Says U.S. Considering Options to “Acquire” Greenland

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.S. President Donald Trump is discussing options to “acquire” Greenland, including the possible use of the U.S. military, the White House said on Tuesday, reviving a long-standing ambition that has drawn sharp opposition from Denmark and other U.S. allies.

The White House said Trump views control of the Arctic Island as a national security priority aimed at countering rival powers in the region.

“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 said.

Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has repeatedly said it does not want to become part of the United States. Denmark and several European countries, along with Canada, reiterated on Tuesday that Greenland belongs to its people.

Any U.S. military move against Denmark, a NATO ally, would send shock waves through the alliance and deepen tensions between Washington and European capitals, analysts say.

Despite the backlash, U.S. officials said Trump remains focused on Greenland’s strategic value amid growing Arctic competition involving Russia and China.

Purchase or compact under discussion

A senior U.S. official said Trump and his advisers are considering several pathways, including the outright purchase of Greenland or the creation of a Compact of Free Association (COFA), which would stop short of making the island part of the United States.

No potential purchase price was disclosed.

“Diplomacy is always the president’s first option,” the official said. “He loves deals. If a good deal can be struck, that would be his first instinct.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers in a classified briefing that the administration’s goal was to buy Greenland from Denmark and that recent remarks did not signal an imminent invasion, according to two sources familiar with the discussion.

Pushback from Congress

Some U.S. lawmakers from both parties criticized the administration’s rhetoric, stressing that Denmark is a close ally.

“When Denmark and Greenland make it clear that Greenland is not for sale, the United States must honor its treaty obligations and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark,” Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Senator Thom Tillis said in a joint statement.

Administration officials argue Greenland is critical because of its untapped reserves of minerals used in high-tech and military applications, though development has been limited by labor shortages and weak infrastructure.

A senior official said Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland “is not going away” during his remaining time in office, underscoring that the issue will remain a point of tension between Washington and its allies.

(Source: Reuters)