Trump considers military annexation of Greenland... a global crisis escalates
In a new escalation that has sparked concern in European circles, the White House confirmed that US President Donald Trump is seriously considering multiple options for acquiring the Danish island of Greenland, indicating that the use of military force "remains an option" to achieve this goal, which Washington described as vital to national security.
Military options and national security priority
White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt clearly conveyed the administration's position, emphasizing that President Trump considers acquiring the Arctic island a top priority for deterring adversaries in the Arctic region. She explained that the presidential team is exploring all avenues forward, including military options that the president, as commander-in-chief, has the authority to activate—a significant shift in diplomatic discourse among allies.
Strategic importance: Why Greenland?
The United States' interest in Greenland is not new. The island occupies a crucial geostrategic location in the Arctic, a region witnessing increasing international competition among major powers, particularly Russia and China. Washington views Greenland as a forward operating base, especially since it already hosts Thule Air Base (now known as Petavik), the northernmost US military base, which plays a pivotal role in the ballistic missile early warning system and space surveillance.
Besides its military importance, the island is rich in enormous natural resources and rare earth minerals that have become more extractable as the ice melts due to climate change, making control of it a long-term economic and strategic gain.
Historical background of American ambitions
The idea of buying Greenland is not unique to Trump; the United States made a formal offer to Denmark in 1946, during the presidency of Harry Truman, to purchase the island for $100 million in gold, but the offer was rejected. Washington also previously purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917, providing a historical precedent upon which the current administration bases its expansionist ambitions, even though the political context has changed dramatically.
European anger and a firm Danish rejection
The American statements provoked angry reactions in Europe, with major European powers including France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom issuing a joint statement supporting Denmark and emphasizing the principles of sovereignty and the inviolability of borders. These countries fear that Trump's insistence on this approach could fracture the transatlantic alliance and NATO.
For his part, Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, reiterated his firm stance that "the island is not for sale," emphasizing that its future will be decided solely by its inhabitants. In an effort to contain the crisis, the governments of Greenland and Denmark requested an urgent meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had been unable to meet with them throughout 2025, to discuss these statements, which Greenland's Foreign Minister, Viviane Motsefeldt, described as "important and serious.".
