Greenland, a vast Arctic island off the northeastern coast of Canada, has found itself at the center of renewed U.S. interest, with the White House signaling that “military options are always on the table” in discussions over the island’s future. President Donald Trump has argued that controlling Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark, is critical to U.S. national security as competition in the Arctic grows.
More than two-thirds of Greenland lies within the Arctic Circle, giving it strategic significance for North American defense and international monitoring, a role it has played since World War II.
White House Pushes Strategic Importance
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday that Trump considers acquiring Greenland a national security priority to deter adversaries in the Arctic region. “The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal,” she said, “and of course, utilising the U.S. military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal.”
Trump first floated the idea of purchasing Greenland during his first term, and the concept gained renewed attention after a U.S. military operation in Venezuela over the weekend. While some White House officials, including special envoy Jeff Landry and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, suggested military action might not be necessary, Leavitt’s statement left the option on the table. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also expressed discomfort with any military approach.
Global Leaders Defend Greenland’s Sovereignty
The White House statement was met with swift international pushback. Leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reaffirmed that Greenland “belongs to its people.” The island is a self-governing part of Denmark and a NATO member territory.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also voiced support for Danish sovereignty, noting that Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon and Foreign Minister Anita Anand will visit Greenland next month. “The future of Greenland and Denmark are decided solely by the people of Denmark,” Carney said.
Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy Jeff Landry emphasized his desire to speak directly with Greenland residents rather than Danish officials or European diplomats, framing his approach as a way to improve life for Greenlanders. “I want to talk to people who want an opportunity to improve the quality of life in Greenland,” Landry said.
Greenland’s Strategic and Economic Significance
Greenland’s location makes it a crucial military asset. The U.S. operates the Pituffik Space Base in the northwest, built under a 1951 defense agreement with Denmark, which supports missile warning, missile defense, and space surveillance for NATO and the U.S. The island also guards part of the GIUK Gap—Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom—through which NATO monitors Russian naval movements.
Beyond military value, Greenland sits atop vast mineral and energy resources, including rare earth minerals vital for electronics and renewable energy technologies, as well as potential offshore oil and gas deposits. Greenlanders have also been granted the legal right to pursue independence, though most have not chosen that path, leaving the island’s future firmly in their hands—even as global powers increasingly eye its strategic potential.
