The U.S. White House revealed that Donald Trump is discussing with officials options for taking control of Greenland, without ruling out the use of military force.
On Tuesday, 6 Jan 2026 GMT+7, the U.S. White House issued a statement saying that President Donald Trump has been discussing various options for taking control of Greenland, including the use of military force, emphasizing that seizing Greenland is a top priority for national security.
This move comes after Trump reiterated over the past weekend that the U.S. "needs" to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of NATO member Denmark, citing reasons related to both security and the economy.
Meanwhile, European allies have shown support for Denmark following the U.S. statement. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned on Monday that any attack from the U.S. would signify the end of NATO.
According to the White House, "The president and his team are exploring various options to advance this important foreign policy goal, and of course, the use of U.S. military forces remains an option under the Commander-in-Chief's authority."
On Tuesday, six European allies jointly issued a statement supporting Denmark.
"Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland, and only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relationship," stated leaders from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Denmark in the statement.
The European signatories also emphasized their strong interest in Arctic security, equal to that of the U.S., but stressed that progress must be achieved through the "joint" cooperation of NATO allies, including the United States.
Furthermore, they called for adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, and respect for borders.
The issue of Greenland's future has returned to the spotlight following U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, where special forces raided and arrested President Nicolás Maduro to bring him to trial in New York on drug and arms charges.
Just one day after the raid, Katie Miller, wife of one of Trump's senior advisors, posted a photo on social media of a Greenland map colored with the American flag and the word "SOON." On Monday, her husband Stephen Miller stated that "The official position of the U.S. government is that Greenland should be part of the United States."
In an interview with CNN, Miller said, "The U.S. is the leading power in NATO. For the U.S. to maintain security in the Arctic region, to protect NATO and its interests, it is clear that Greenland should be part of the United States."
When asked if the U.S. would rule out using force to annex the territory, Miller replied, "No one is going to fight the United States over the future of Greenland."
Source:bbc