The White House has said the United States is considering different options to achieve its foreign policy goals regarding Greenland, including the possible use of military power.
In a statement on Tuesday, the White House said the president and his advisers were discussing a range of options. It added that using the US military is always an option available to the commander-in-chief.
The comments have raised alarm in Europe, where several countries have come out in strong support of Denmark and Greenland.
European Allies Voice Support for Denmark
Nato is a military alliance that links the United States with European countries. Its members agree to support each other if one of them is attacked.
On Tuesday, six European allies issued a joint statement backing Denmark. The leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Denmark said Greenland belongs to its people.
They stressed that only Denmark and Greenland have the right to decide their future relationship.
The statement also said that while European countries share US concerns about security in the Arctic, these issues must be handled together through Nato.
The leaders called for respect for international law, including national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the protection of borders, as outlined in the United Nations Charter.
Greenland Calls for Calm and Respect
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, welcomed the European statement. He urged all sides to engage in calm and respectful discussions.
Nielsen said any dialogue must respect Greenland’s legal status and international law. He added that Greenland’s future cannot be decided without the consent of its people.
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. It has managed most of its internal affairs since 1979, but Denmark still controls defence and foreign policy.
Why Greenland Is Back in the Spotlight
The debate over Greenland’s future intensified after a recent US military operation in Venezuela, during which American forces captured President Nicolás Maduro and took him to the United States to face criminal charges.
Shortly after that operation, Katie Miller, the wife of a senior adviser to former US President Donald Trump, shared a map of Greenland on social media. The map was coloured like the American flag and included the word “SOON.”
The post caused concern in Greenland and Denmark.
A day later, her husband, Stephen Miller, said it was the official position of the US government that Greenland should become part of the United States.
When asked whether the US would rule out using force, Miller said he believed no country would challenge the US over Greenland’s future.
Strong Feelings Inside Greenland
Greenland has a population of about 57,000 people. While many Greenlanders support eventual independence from Denmark, opinion polls show strong opposition to becoming part of the United States.
The US already operates a military base on the island, which adds to concerns among locals.
Morgan Angaju, a 27-year-old Inuit resident from Ilulissat in western Greenland, told the BBC he found recent statements frightening.
He said it was disturbing to hear global leaders talk about Greenland as something to be claimed.
“We are already claimed by the Greenlandic people,” he said, explaining that Kalaallit Nunaat means “the land of the Greenlandic people.”
Angaju said he fears what might happen next, including the possibility of outside intervention or pressure on Greenland’s leaders.
US Explores Other Options
An unnamed senior US official told Reuters that Washington is also considering non-military options. These include buying Greenland outright or forming a Compact of Free Association.
Such agreements allow territories to govern themselves while maintaining close ties with the United States on defence and economic matters.
In response to growing concern, a US State Department spokesperson told the BBC that Washington wants to build strong commercial ties that benefit both Americans and Greenlanders.
The spokesperson said the US, Denmark, and other Nato allies share concerns about increased activity by rival powers in the Arctic region.
US Officials Play Down Invasion Fears
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers during a private briefing that the US does not plan to invade Greenland. However, he did mention the idea of purchasing the territory from Denmark, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Greenland and Denmark have requested an urgent meeting with Rubio to discuss the situation.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, said he believes direct talks will clear up misunderstandings between the two countries.
Security Arguments Continue
Some US lawmakers have defended the discussion around Greenland by pointing to national security concerns.
Republican Senator Eric Schmitt said talks are ongoing and expressed hope that Europe would understand the US position.
He said a strong United States benefits Western nations as a whole and helps protect shared values.
Uncertain Path Ahead
The debate has left Greenlanders uneasy and raised serious questions about sovereignty, international law, and the future of the Arctic region.
European leaders have made clear they want cooperation, not confrontation. Greenland’s leaders have stressed dialogue and respect.
As discussions continue, the future of Greenland remains uncertain, but the issue has clearly become a sensitive test of relations between the US, Europe, and the Arctic’s people.