One day after a joint European declaration defending Greenland's sovereignty and Denmark's military buildup announcement, the Trump administration intensified pressure with explicit mentions of military options to seize the Arctic island, prompting NATO alliance fears.
The US has heightened its rhetoric in the dispute over Greenland, with spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stating that 'deploying the US military remains an option' for President Trump to achieve control, framed as a national security priority against China and Russia in the Arctic.
This follows Trump's renewed demands—echoing his 2019 proposal—and recent comments to The Atlantic: 'We need Greenland, absolutely.' Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller affirmed it as official US policy, while his wife shared a social media map coloring Greenland in US colors captioned 'SOON.' These statements come days after the US intervention in Venezuela, where Nicolás Maduro was captured amid reported casualties.
European leaders from Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, and others had just issued a joint rebuke: 'Greenland belongs to its people,' rejecting interference. Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned a US attack 'would be the end of NATO.' Greenland's Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen urged calm, distinguishing it from Venezuela and emphasizing openness to US business and NATO dialogue.
On the island of 57,000, largely autonomous since 1979 but with Danish control over defense, locals express growing alarm. Veterinarian Tom Amtoft voiced readiness to resist, and protests are organizing. The Pituffik US base underscores Greenland's strategic value for Arctic routes and resources.
Experts fear this breaches NATO taboos, threatening the alliance and rules-based order.