House Speaker Mike Johnson says military action against Greenland is not under consideration, even as the Trump administration weighs options to advance U.S. security interests in the Arctic.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday rejected suggestions that the United States could deploy troops or pursue military action in Greenland, calling such speculation unfounded and unnecessary.
Speaking at a news conference, Johnson said the United States is “not at war with Greenland,” responding to questions about whether any military activity involving the Danish-controlled territory would require congressional authorization. Video of his remarks was later circulated online. Johnson said there is “no reason” for the United States to be at war and dismissed talk of military force as unrealistic.
While ruling out armed conflict, Johnson acknowledged Greenland’s geopolitical importance, noting that multiple U.S. presidents, beginning with Harry Truman, have recognized the island’s strategic value. Greenland, the world’s largest island, sits between North America and Europe in the North Atlantic and remains a self-governing territory under the Kingdom of Denmark.
Johnson pointed to Greenland’s significant rare-earth mineral reserves and said the Trump administration is pursuing the issue through diplomatic means. He described those efforts as being in America’s interest and not contrary to the interests of Greenland or Denmark.
The comments come amid heightened attention on Greenland following statements by President Donald Trump and senior administration officials after a U.S. military operation on Jan. 3 that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. In recent days, the White House has reiterated that Greenland is viewed as a national security priority, particularly in the context of growing competition in the Arctic.
In a statement earlier this week, the White House said President Trump and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue U.S. interests in Greenland, adding that the use of military force remains an option available to the commander in chief. That position has drawn sharp reactions abroad.
Officials in Greenland have said they do not wish to become part of the United States. Leaders from major European powers echoed that stance in a joint statement issued Tuesday, saying Greenland belongs to its people and warning that any U.S. action could undermine NATO unity. The statement emphasized that the Kingdom of Denmark, including Greenland, is part of the NATO alliance and that European allies are increasing their presence in the Arctic to deter adversaries.
Some members of Congress have also expressed concern about the administration’s rhetoric. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis, co-chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group, said in a joint statement that when Denmark and Greenland make clear the island is not for sale, the United States must respect Denmark’s sovereignty and honor its treaty obligations. They warned that with the ongoing war in Ukraine and rising threats from Russia and China in the Arctic and Indo-Pacific, divisions within NATO would be dangerous.
Despite those concerns, White House senior adviser Stephen Miller said earlier this week in a televised interview that no country would fight the United States militarily over Greenland’s future and argued that Washington has a right to acquire the territory, remarks reported by CNN.
President Trump reinforced the administration’s security argument over the weekend, telling reporters that Greenland is increasingly surrounded by Russian and Chinese activity and that Denmark lacks the capacity to secure the region on its own, making U.S. involvement a matter of national security.
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