'Acquiring Greenland is a national priority for the US': White House says military option is 'always' available

European leaders back Denmark and Greenland after Washington confirms force remains on the table.

• Trump considers acquiring Greenland, possibly using military options
• EU leaders support Denmark, affirm Greenland's self-determination.
• Greenland is a resource-rich, autonomous territory of Denmark in the Arctic

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The White House said on Tuesday that President Donald Trump and his team are discussing options to acquire Greenland and that the use of the US military remains an option, prompting a rare and coordinated response from European leaders backing Denmark and Greenland.

“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States,” the White House said in a statement responding to questions from Reuters. It added that a range of options is under discussion and that “utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander-in-chief’s disposal.”

Arctic security cited as rationale

The White House said Greenland is vital to deterring adversaries in the Arctic, underscoring Washington’s focus on the region as melting ice opens new shipping routes and access to natural resources.

Trump has previously floated acquiring Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, reviving a proposal that has drawn sharp objections from Copenhagen and Nuuk.

Europe closes ranks behind Denmark and Greenland

European leaders moved quickly to push back. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz issued a joint statement alongside the prime ministers of Denmark, Italy, Poland and Spain, saying Greenland “belongs to its people.”

“It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland,” the leaders said.

Starmer later reiterated Britain’s position at a press conference in Paris attended by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, saying the UK’s support for Denmark was clear.

Why Greenland matters

Greenland is a former Danish colony and now an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Covering about 836,000 square miles (2.16 million square kilometres), it is resource-rich but sparsely populated, with around 56,000 residents.

Roughly 81% of the island is covered by ice, and nearly 90% of its population is of Inuit origin. Its economy is heavily dependent on fishing, and most towns are scattered along the western coast, connected mainly by air and sea.