White House: "Acquiring Greenland Is a National Security Priority... U.S. Military Option on the Table"

Trump's Interest in Greenland Dates Back to His First Term
Annexation Issue Resurfaces After Maduro's Arrest
Seven Nations, Including the UK, Oppose: "Authority Over Greenland Belongs to Denmark"

Reuters reported on January 6 (local time) that the White House announced U.S. President Donald Trump is in discussions regarding the annexation of Greenland and is not ruling out the use of the U.S. military as an option.

The Danish flag is fluttering in Nuuk, Greenland. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News Agency

In response to Reuters' inquiry on the matter, the White House stated, "President Trump has made it clear that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority for the United States and is essential for deterring adversaries in the Arctic region."

The White House further explained, "President Trump and his team are discussing a range of options to achieve this important foreign policy goal, and the use of the U.S. military is among the options the Commander-in-Chief may consider."

President Trump has publicly expressed interest in purchasing Greenland since his first term in office. After the recent surprise operation to arrest Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, he brought up the issue of Greenland again, signaling renewed interest.

In an interview with the U.S. current affairs weekly The Atlantic on January 4, President Trump stated, "Greenland is absolutely necessary for security."

Notably, Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and one of Trump's closest aides, was asked in a CNN interview the previous day whether the U.S. would consider using force to annex Greenland. He responded, "There will be no country willing to engage in military conflict with the United States over the future of Greenland."

Earlier, Katie Miller, the Deputy Chief of Staff's wife and a conservative podcaster, posted on social media an image of Greenland depicted with the American flag and the phrase "Soon."

Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). As President Trump's annexation plan resurfaces, Denmark and other European countries are expressing strong opposition.

On this day, seven countries- the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Denmark- issued a joint statement declaring, "Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland, and the authority to decide matters related to Denmark and Greenland rests solely with Denmark and Greenland."

Separately from the joint statement, French President Emmanuel Macron, at a joint press conference with the U.S. delegation following the 'Coalition of Will' summit for Ukraine held in Paris, France, emphasized, "Greenland is a territory under Danish sovereignty, and it will remain so in the future."