The White House has declared that using the United States military to acquire Greenland remains "always an option," dramatically escalating a diplomatic standoff with NATO ally Denmark.
A Stated Ambition and a Stark Warning
President Donald Trump has been vocal about his desire to annex the vast, self-governing island, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. This ambition has triggered a major international crisis, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warning that any US military action to seize the territory would mean the end of the NATO alliance.
In a statement released on Tuesday 6 January 2026, the Trump administration pushed back, framing the acquisition of Greenland as a vital national security imperative. "President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it's vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region," the statement said.
It added: "The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilising the US military is always an option at the commander-in-chief's disposal."
Global Repercussions and the Monroe Doctrine
Fears of unilateral American action have intensified following the recent, audacious US raid in Caracas that led to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Mr Trump has cited the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine to justify such interventions, asserting America's right to act in its own interest across the Western Hemisphere.
With the door left open to further interventions, the president has redoubled his focus on Greenland. Speaking to NBC News on Monday, he stated bluntly that "we need it for national security, right now."
The tension has drawn other world leaders into the fray. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has joined counterparts from Europe and Canada in backing Denmark, stating clearly, "I stand with her. She's right about the future of Greenland."
Diplomacy, Deals, or Force?
According to a senior US official who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, the push to bring Greenland under US control is persistent. "It's not going away," the official said.
The administration is reportedly considering several paths:
- An outright purchase of the territory, which aligns with the president's famed preference for dealmaking.
- Establishing a Compact of Free Association (COFA) similar to agreements the US holds with Pacific Island nations, granting military access in exchange for financial aid.
- The aforementioned military option, which the White House insists remains on the table.
The official confirmed that Mr Trump aims to acquire Greenland during his current term in office, setting a clear and urgent timeline for this geopolitical gambit. As Arctic competition heats up, this dispute threatens to fracture the very transatlantic alliance designed to ensure collective security.
