Trump asks army chiefs to prepare Greenland invasion plan, faces resistance from generals

Trump asks army chiefs to prepare Greenland invasion plan, faces resistance from generals

• Trump asked US special forces to plan for a possible invasion of Greenland
• Military leaders and US allies strongly oppose the proposal
• Greenland's strategic location and resources cited as key reasons

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US President Donald Trump has directed America’s special forces leadership to prepare contingency plans for a possible invasion of Greenland, according to a report published on Sunday, though the proposal has reportedly triggered strong resistance within the US military establishment.

Sources cited by the Daily Mail said Trump asked the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to draft the plan, but senior officials, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have pushed back, arguing that such an operation would be illegal and lack congressional approval.

The report said hardline figures within Trump’s inner circle, led by political adviser Stephen Miller, have become more assertive following what they view as the successful US operation against Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro.

These advisers are said to believe the US should move quickly to secure Greenland before Russia or China expands its influence in the Arctic region. Trump has publicly reiterated his interest in Greenland, warning that the US would “do something” to secure the territory if a deal could not be reached “the easy way,” and insisting that Washington cannot allow Russia or China to gain a strategic foothold there.

He has also claimed that Chinese and Russian vessels are operating extensively in waters surrounding the island, framing the issue as a national security imperative.

However, the proposal has drawn sharp opposition from both military leaders and US allies. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that any attempt to seize Greenland by force would amount to the “end of NATO,” while senior US military officials have reportedly tried to divert Trump’s attention toward less controversial operations, such as intercepting Russian “ghost ships” or considering action against Iran.

Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, holds major strategic importance due to its location at the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap and its vast reserves of rare earth minerals.

The US already maintains a military presence at the Pituffik Space Base under a long-standing treaty, but Trump has repeatedly argued that access alone is insufficient. The renewed push comes amid speculation that the president may also be seeking a dramatic foreign policy move ahead of the upcoming US mid-term elections.