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The White House has stated that President Donald Trump is considering even the use of the United States Armed Forces as one of the “options” to gain control of Greenland, an autonomous territory under the sovereignty of Denmark.
The statement, far from being a rhetorical slip, is accompanied by a language of power that unsettles European allies and rekindles fears in smaller countries regarding the ambitions of great powers.
According to CNN, the White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, stated that acquiring Greenland is a “national security priority” for Washington and that the president and his team are considering “various alternatives” to achieve this goal, including the possibility of military action.
The official emphasized that Trump sees territorial control as essential to deter "adversaries" in the Arctic region, which is marked by the increasing presence of Russia and China.
Europa Press reinforced the idea that the White House is not limited to diplomatic or economic negotiations, but rather maintains a tough pressure discourse that breaks with the usual tone among NATO partners.
Since the weekend, Denmark has publicly called on the U.S. president to end what it considers unacceptable threats regarding Greenland.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was clear in reminding that the United States "has no right to annex" any territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, which includes Greenland and the Faroe Islands, and emphasized that both countries are part of NATO and are covered by the collective defense of the alliance.
In Copenhagen, the precedent set by Venezuela has raised concerns, where U.S. pressure escalated warnings for years about how far Washington might go when invoking "national security" reasons. Greenland, strategically significant due to its location and resources, has now appeared on a radar that many Europeans find unsettling.
Trump has defended his stance by claiming that the island is vital for U.S. defense. In recent statements, he insisted that the presence of Russian and Chinese ships in the region makes Greenland an "absolutely necessary" piece for his country’s security.
This was complemented by symbolic gestures that were perceived as provocations, such as the sharing on social media of images depicting Greenland painted in the colors of the American flag.
For Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, such messages are "disrespectful," although he tried to convey calm by reminding that the territory has self-governance, strong institutions, and support from international law.
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