WASHINGTON — The White House has escalated geopolitical tensions by declaring the potential acquisition of Greenland a national security priority, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirming that military force remains “always an option” for the United States. This provocative stance comes despite urgent requests from both Danish and Greenlandic authorities for high-level diplomatic meetings to address what they term “misunderstandings.”
The administration’s renewed interest in the autonomous Danish territory appears linked to recent military operations in Venezuela, reflecting a pattern of expansionist foreign policy maneuvers. Greenland’s strategic significance has grown substantially due to its vast untapped rare earth mineral deposits and emerging shipping routes created by melting polar ice caps.
European leaders have responded with unprecedented unity, issuing a joint statement signed by seven NATO allies affirming their commitment to territorial sovereignty principles. The declaration specifically states that “Greenland belongs to its people” and that only Denmark and Greenland may decide matters concerning the territory.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reiterated that the island is “not for sale,” while Danish officials emphasized their substantial security investments totaling $14 billion annually. The diplomatic impasse continues as Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt revealed that requested ministerial-level meetings throughout 2025 have remained unscheduled.
President Trump, who has periodically floated the Greenland acquisition idea since his first term, suggested a decision might emerge within “about two months” following stabilization of the Venezuela situation. Arctic security experts like Marc Jacobsen of the Royal Danish Defence College describe the recurring proposal as “like a broken record,” noting the administration’s persistent underestimation of Denmark’s security capabilities despite Copenhagen’s significant defense allocations.