President Donald Trump has renewed and escalated his call for the United States to take ownership of Greenland, arguing that outright control of the Arctic island is necessary to prevent Russia or China from expanding their influence closer to U.S. territory.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday during a meeting with oil industry executives, Trump said future security risks leave the U.S. with no alternative.
“We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not. Because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor,” Trump said.
Greenland, home to roughly 57,000 people, is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. While the U.S. already maintains a military presence on the island under a 1951 defense agreement, Trump dismissed existing arrangements as insufficient for long-term security.
“You defend ownership. You don’t defend leases. And we’ll have to defend Greenland. If we don’t do it, China or Russia will,” he added.
According to administration officials, discussions inside the White House have gone beyond rhetoric. Various options are reportedly being explored, including financial incentives for Greenlanders and even potential military involvement, aimed at encouraging the territory to break away from Denmark and align with the United States.
Trump’s comments have triggered sharp criticism across Europe. Danish leaders and other European officials have expressed alarm at what they see as a direct challenge to sovereignty and international norms. Denmark and the United States are both NATO members, bound by a mutual defense agreement that already includes Greenland.
Earlier this week, Denmark joined France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Britain in issuing a joint statement reaffirming that decisions about Greenland’s future rest solely with Greenland and Denmark.
