The debate over Greenland’s future has taken a dramatic turn, with Donald Trump once again signaling his ambition to bring the Arctic island under U.S. control.
What began as an unusual real estate proposal has now escalated into talk of potential military action. As tensions rise, NATO allies — including Denmark, which owns Greenland — are left questioning how far Trump is willing to go.
Donald Trump has repeatedly stated his desire to buy the territory, but Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, has made it clear that Greenland is not for sale.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump once again emphasized that the United States needs Greenland for national security reasons. He also suggested that deploying American troops to seize control of the island could be an option.
”We really need it for national security. I think that is why NATO might have to get involved anyway,” he said.
Trump then pointed out that the U.S. already maintains a military presence on Greenland. The U.S. currently operates Pituffik Space Base on the island, which plays a key role in missile warning and space surveillance operations.
”We have a couple of bases on Greenland already, and we have quite a few soldiers. Maybe you will see more and more soldiers go there,” he warned. ”We have bases and we have quite a few soldiers on Greenland.”
During the discussion, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, seated on a couch in the Oval Office, nodded in agreement.
However, not everyone in the room shared Trump’s enthusiasm. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who was present in the Oval Office, showed little interest in engaging with the president’s remarks.
The NATO chief made it clear he wanted no part in the debate.
”When it comes to Greenland, yes or no joining the U.S., I would leave that outside, for me, this discussion, because I don’t want to direct NATO in that,” Rutte stated, distancing the alliance from Trump’s ambitions.
Donald Trump has a history of considering military action to claim territory he wants for the U.S.—and Greenland is no exception.
Back in January, before taking office, Trump hinted at using force not only in Greenland but also in Panama, where he has his eye on controlling the canal.
But Greenlanders just made their stance clear. In Tuesday’s election, the center-right Demokraatit party, which strongly opposes an American takeover, won first place. While Greenland is still a Danish territory, it has significant self-rule — and the question of independence is hotter than ever.
Demokraatit’s leader and incoming Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, didn’t hold back in rejecting Trump’s ambitions.
”We don’t want to be Americans. No, we don’t want to be Danes. We want to be Greenlanders, and we want our own independence in the future,” Nielsen told Sky News. ”And we want to build our own country by ourselves.”
This election wasn’t just a rejection of Trump — it was a clear sign that Greenlanders are serious about breaking away from Denmark and forging their own path. The winning Demokraati party has a stated goal of gradually achieving independence from Denmark.
