White House says US military "an option" for acquiring Greenland - National & International News - WED 7Jan2026 -

White House alarms NATO allies by suggesting military force is “an option” for the US to acquire Greenland.

White House says US military “an option” for acquiring Greenland

Following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro this weekend, President Trump is renewing his push for the US to acquire Greenland. Although it is about 1/4 the size of the contiguous 48 states, Greenland is home to less than 60,000 people, most of whom live in coastal settlements. Over 80% of the vast territory lies within the Arctic Circle, which is growing in strategic importance. Greenland is a self-governed territory of Denmark – a NATO ally – and Greenlanders enjoy the full rights of European Union citizenship.

The Trump administration has stoked fears that Greenland could be used as base of operations for adversaries such as China and Russia, although Danish officials have denied this possibility. In fact, Greenland is home to one of the US’s largest foreign military bases in terms of area, Pituffik Space Base, formerly called Thule Air Base.

Since returning to office last year, Trump repeatedly for the US to acquire Greenland by any means necessary. The White House’s rhetoric on the topic has become increasingly belligerent. This week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that “utilizing the US military is always an option“.

The Trump administration has also proposed purchasing Greenland from Denmark, but these offers have been publicly rejected. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he will be meeting with Danish officials next week to see if a diplomatic solution is possible.