U.S. White House Press Secretary Leavitt said on the 6th that President Donald Trump and his team are discussing “a range of options” to acquire Greenland, including “using the U.S. military.”
In an email to Xinhua reporters, she confirmed that Trump has made it clear that “acquiring Greenland is a national security priority for the United States and is essential to deterring our adversaries in the Arctic region.” Trump and his team are discussing “a range of options to achieve this important foreign policy goal,” and “using the U.S. military” is always available to him as Commander-in-Chief.
Since taking office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly threatened to acquire Greenland and claimed not to rule out the use of force. In a phone interview with The Atlantic on the 4th of this month, he stated that Venezuela may not be the last country the U.S. intervenes in, and said, “We absolutely need Greenland.”
Trump’s remarks have sparked strong opposition from Denmark and other European countries.
Greenland is located in the northeast of North America and is the world’s largest island. The island is an autonomous territory of Denmark with a high degree of self-government, while defense and foreign affairs are overseen by the Danish government. The United States currently maintains a military base on Greenland.
Joint Statement by Leaders of 7 European Nations: Greenland Belongs to Its People
Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement on the 6th, emphasizing that Greenland belongs to its people, and only Denmark and Greenland can decide their own affairs.
The Danish Prime Minister’s Office released this joint statement, which was jointly signed by the leaders of the seven countries. The statement stressed that all parties must adhere to the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders.
Denmark and Greenland Decide Their Own Affairs
The Foreign Ministers of the five Nordic countries—Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden—also issued a joint statement on the Greenland issue on the 6th, emphasizing that any matters concerning Denmark and Greenland should be entirely decided by Denmark and Greenland themselves.
The statement was published on the official government websites of the five countries.
The statement said that as Nordic countries, Arctic states, and NATO members, the five countries are jointly committed to maintaining security, stability, and cooperation in the Arctic region. Each has taken steps to enhance deterrence and defense capabilities in the Arctic, including developing new capabilities, conducting relevant activities, expanding troop presence, and improving situational awareness.
The statement emphasized that security in the Arctic is based on respect for the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law, including the inviolability of borders.
The statement pointed out that the Kingdom of Denmark, including Greenland, is a founding member of NATO and has always maintained close cooperation with the United States on Arctic security issues.