Washington January 7 2026 (Agencies) – The White House has indicated that military action remains among the options under consideration as President Donald Trump renews efforts to acquire Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark and a member of NATO through the Danish kingdom.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration views acquiring Greenland as an important national security objective, citing the strategic importance of the Arctic region. She said President Trump and his advisers are discussing a range of options to pursue the goal, adding that the use of the US military is always an option available to the commander in chief.
Trump and senior officials have repeatedly argued that US control of Greenland is vital to counter adversaries in the Arctic and to protect long-term American security interests. The renewed push comes days after a US military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, an action that has intensified scrutiny of Washington’s foreign policy approach.
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen responded by rejecting any notion of a forced takeover, saying the territory cannot be annexed or taken over simply at another country’s will. Denmark has also strongly opposed the idea, emphasizing Greenland’s right to self-determination.
In a show of solidarity, leaders of Denmark and several NATO member states, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement affirming support for Greenland’s sovereignty. The statement was released shortly before Leavitt’s comments became public.
The remarks have also sparked concern within the United States. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said lawmakers were unable to receive assurances from administration officials that similar military actions would not be considered against other countries, including Colombia, Greenland or Iran. He warned that targeting a NATO ally would represent a dangerous escalation.
Greenland’s government did not immediately issue a formal response to Leavitt’s statement, while US officials have not provided details on any concrete steps or timelines. Analysts say the renewed focus on Greenland highlights rising geopolitical competition in the Arctic and raises questions about the future of US relations with its European allies.