Greenland’s strategic location in the Arctic has once again thrust the vast island into the centre of global politics, after the White House said the use of the US military remains an option in President Donald Trump’s renewed effort to bring the territory under American control.
Greenland lies off Canada’s northeastern coast, with more than two-thirds of its landmass inside the Arctic Circle, a position that has made it central to North American defence planning since World War II.
White House Keeps Military Option on the Table
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said late Tuesday that President Trump views acquiring Greenland as a national security priority, particularly as competition intensifies in the Arctic.
“The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilising the US military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal,” Leavitt said.
Trump first floated the idea of purchasing Greenland during his initial term in office, but the proposal has gained renewed momentum following a recent US military operation that led to the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Trump has argued that Greenland is vital to countering growing Chinese and Russian activity in the Arctic.
Leavitt’s remarks stood in contrast to comments from Trump’s newly appointed special envoy to Greenland, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, both of whom previously suggested that military action would not be necessary. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also voiced opposition, saying he did not believe military action would be appropriate.
Strong Pushback From Europe and Canada
Trump’s comments have triggered firm resistance from European leaders. France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in a joint statement reaffirming that Greenland belongs to its people.
“Greenland belongs to its people,” the statement said. “It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and part of the NATO alliance. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also voiced support for Denmark and Greenland, announcing that Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon and Foreign Minister Anita Anand will visit the island next month.
“The future of Greenland and Denmark are decided solely by the people of Denmark,” Carney said while standing alongside Frederiksen in Paris.
Despite the diplomatic backlash, Stephen Miller said the US position had not changed, arguing that Greenland should fall under US control as part of Washington’s broader security framework. While questioning Denmark’s historical claim to the island, Miller insisted there was no need to discuss military intervention, saying no country would fight the United States over Greenland’s future.
Why Greenland Matters Strategically
Greenland was a Danish colony for centuries before becoming an integral part of the kingdom in 1953. Although Denmark retains control over defence and foreign policy, legislation passed in 2009 granted Greenland broad self-government and recognised its right to independence under international law, an option supported by many Greenlanders.
Its importance to global security is hard to overstate. Greenland hosts the US-operated Pituffik Space Base, established under a 1951 defence agreement with Denmark. The base plays a key role in missile warning, missile defence and space surveillance for both the US and NATO.
The island also sits along the GIUK Gap, a critical maritime corridor between Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom where NATO monitors Russian naval movements in the North Atlantic.
Beyond military considerations, Greenland holds vast untapped resources. It has significant deposits of rare earth minerals essential for modern technologies such as smartphones, batteries and renewable energy systems. The US Geological Survey has also identified potential offshore reserves of oil and natural gas, adding to the island’s long-term strategic and economic appeal.
As global competition in the Arctic intensifies, Greenland’s future is increasingly shaped not just by geography, but by the competing ambitions of world powers.
