‘Military is always an option’: Purchase or invade? Donald Trump weighs how US could acquire Greenland

The White House on Tuesday (local time) said that President Donald Trump is actively discussing options to acquire Greenland, including the potential use of the US military, reviving an ambition first floated during his initial term despite firm opposition from Europe and Greenland itself.

In a statement, the White House said Trump views control of the Arctic island as a national security priority, aimed at deterring US adversaries in the region.




“The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the US military is always an option at the commander-in-chief’s disposal,” the statement said.

A senior US official toldd said the administration is considering multiple pathways, including an outright purchase of Greenland or a Compact of Free Association. Such an agreement would stop short of incorporating the territory as part of the United States. No potential purchase price has been discussed.

“Diplomacy is always the president’s first option. He loves deals,” the official said.

Trump wants to buy, not seize Greenland: US secretary of state Marco Rubio

Secretary of state Marco Rubio told lawmakers in a classified briefing on Monday that the administration’s goal is to buy Greenland from Denmark and that recent rhetoric does not signal an imminent invasion, according to New York Times.

Some Republicans and Democrats pushed back, warning that the United States must respect Danish sovereignty and Nato commitments. Administration officials argue Greenland is strategically vital due to its untapped mineral resources critical for advanced technology and defense.

Trump’s push to acquire the island, the official said, “is not going away.”

What is Greenland's stand?

Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, has repeatedly said it does not want to become part of the United States.

Denmark, Canada and several major European powers reiterated on Tuesday that the island belongs to its people. According to Reuters, US military seizure of Greenland from Denmark, a Nato ally, would send shockwaves through the alliance and further strain US-European relations.

Despite the pushback, Trump has continued to explore ways to expand US influence over the island, which sits at the center of intensifying Arctic competition involving Russia and China.

His renewed interest comes after the recent US arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, an event that Trump allies say has emboldened his broader foreign policy posture.