By Emmanuel Bobby
President Donald Trump on Friday sharply intensified his rhetoric regarding Greenland, declaring that the United States will take action to acquire the Arctic territory, even if doing so faces resistance from its current administrators and allies.
“We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “Because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor.”
The comments reflect the administration’s growing focus on Greenland’s strategic importance amid rising global competition in the Arctic. Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, occupies a critical position between North America and Europe and is seen as increasingly valuable as melting ice opens new shipping routes and access to natural resources.
Trump’s remarks come just days after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president could consider military options to “pursue this important foreign policy goal.” Her statement followed a rare joint response from several major European allies, who said they would “not stop defending” the principles of national sovereignty and Greenland’s territorial integrity.
Greenland holds significant military and economic value. The United States already operates a military base on the island and has long viewed the region as essential to missile defense and Arctic security. Greenlandic officials have previously said they would welcome an expanded U.S. military presence, a proposal Trump dismissed as insufficient.
“When we own it, we defend it,” Trump said when asked why he had not accepted an expanded military arrangement. “You don’t defend leases the same way. You have to own it.”
The president repeated his assertion that U.S. ownership is necessary to prevent rival powers from gaining a foothold in the region.
“We’re not going to allow Russia or China to occupy Greenland,” Trump said during the public portion of a meeting with oil and gas executives. “And that’s what’s going to happen if we don’t own it.”
Pressed on whether the United States would compensate Denmark or Greenland for the territory, Trump declined to provide details.
“I’m not talking about money for Greenland yet,” he said. “I might talk about that, but we’re going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not.”
The renewed pressure comes amid diplomatic efforts to clarify U.S. intentions. Earlier this week, senior representatives from Denmark and Greenland met with White House officials to seek greater insight into the administration’s policy toward the island. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also scheduled to meet next week with the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland.
Greenland’s representative to the United States, Jacob Isbosethsen, met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and reiterated the territory’s position, stating plainly that Greenland is not for sale.
On Capitol Hill, even some Republican leaders have expressed discomfort with the president’s language. Several have said it would be inappropriate for the U.S. military to use force to take control of the Arctic island, emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong alliances and respecting international norms.
Despite the pushback, Trump has shown no sign of backing away from the idea, framing the issue as a matter of national security and long-term geopolitical competition. As global attention increasingly turns to the Arctic, the administration’s stance on Greenland is likely to remain a flashpoint in U.S. relations with Europe and its NATO allies.
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