By Chinonyerem Emmanuel
President Donald Trump escalated his controversial bid to bring Greenland under U.S. control, declaring Friday that his administration will take decisive action on the Arctic territory “whether they like it or not.” The forceful remark came during a White House meeting with oil industry executives focused on Venezuela, where U.S. forces dramatically captured that country’s leader in a high-profile operation earlier in the week.
Trump’s renewed public insistence reflects a long-standing fixation on Greenland, which he believes is crucial to American national security and global strategic positioning. The Arctic island, an autonomous territory of Denmark with rich natural resources and a key geographic location, has been spotlighted by the administration as a priority, even as allies baulk at the idea.
According to the Reuters-reported White House deliberations, Trump’s team is actively evaluating a broad spectrum of approaches to gain control of Greenland — ranging from direct purchase negotiations to more controversial concepts such as military involvement or unilateral action.
Administration officials have even considered offering lump-sum cash incentives to Greenlanders to sway them toward aligning with the United States, though questions remain about political and legal feasibility.
When pressed Friday about how much such payments could amount to, Trump offered only a tease, saying, “I’m not talking about money for Greenland, yet.”
Trump’s rhetoric comes against a backdrop of sharp resistance: Denmark insists that Greenland is not for sale and remains part of the Danish kingdom, while Greenland’s leaders emphasize the island’s right to self-determination and reject any forced transfer of sovereignty.
European allies warn that any U.S. attempt to assert control — especially through force — could strain historic diplomatic alliances.
In short, Trump’s comments mark a striking intensification of his push for what critics describe as an unprecedented challenge to international norms over territorial sovereignty, highlighting deepening geopolitical tensions over the Arctic and U.S. foreign policy ambitions.
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