Washington/Copenhagen, Jan 7, 2026 — The United States is discussing a range of options, including the possible use of military force, to acquire Greenland, the White House said on Tuesday, triggering strong opposition from European allies and renewed debate over Arctic security.
Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty. The administration of President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that bringing the strategically located Arctic island under US control is a national security priority, citing growing geopolitical competition in the region. The development was first reported by Reuters.
The White House’s comments came as several European countries issued a joint statement backing Denmark and rejecting Washington’s ambitions over Greenland. President Trump has recently reiterated his long-standing claim that the United States “needs Greenland” for security reasons.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that any US military action against Greenland would signal the end of the NATO alliance, underscoring the seriousness of the dispute among allies.
According to the White House, the president and his administration are actively considering multiple pathways to achieve what they describe as a key foreign policy objective. As commander-in-chief, the use of the US military, officials said, is always among the options under discussion.
Leaders from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Denmark said in their joint statement that Greenland belongs to its people and that decisions regarding its relationship with Denmark can only be made by Denmark and Greenland themselves. They stressed the importance of safeguarding Arctic security collectively through NATO and reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined in the UN Charter.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen welcomed the statement, calling for respectful dialogue grounded in international law and mutual respect for territorial integrity.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later sought to ease tensions, saying Washington currently has no plan to launch a military invasion of Greenland.
US Considers Military Options to Acquire Greenland
White House says all options are under discussion as European allies reaffirm support for Denmark and warn against violating sovereignty
European allies backed Denmark after the White House said the U.S. is considering options, including military force, to acquire Greenland.
