In a bold statement, a White House aide suggested that military action in Greenland could be on the table, referring to it as a former Danish ‘colony.’ President Trump is eyeing the Arctic territory for its strategic significance amid growing foreign naval presence.
A top White House aide on Monday did not rule out the use of military force if the United States ever decided to take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. Stephen Miller, senior adviser to President Donald Trump, described Greenland as “a colony of Denmark” and claimed, “Nobody is gonna fight the US militarily over the future of Greenland.”The comments follow calls by Trump for the Arctic island to come under US control. Trump told journalists on Sunday, “We need Greenland,” arguing that controlling the island was essential for Washington’s “national security.” The MAGA chief added that the island is surrounded by “Chinese and Russian ships” and has previously offered to purchase Greenland. Trump has also not ruled out military action to achieve that aim. The push sparked warnings from Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. She said that a US takeover of Greenland would threaten the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), stating, “If the United States decides to military attack another NATO country, then everything would stop — that includes NATO and therefore post-World War II security.” Frederiksen warned that such a move could disrupt decades of international cooperation and security agreements. However, Miller said that: “Greenland should be part of the US. By what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? The US is the power of NATO.”Greenland’s own premier, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, urged both Denmark and the US to work through proper channels. He told the public, “The situation is not such that the United States can conquer Greenland. That is not the case. Therefore, we must not panic. We must restore the good cooperation we once had.” He also posted on social media, asking Trump to abandon “fantasies of annexing Greenland” and that any discussions must respect international law.Greenland has major strategic and economic value. The island hosts a US military base and is rich in oil, minerals and other resources. Moreover, melting Arctic ice could make Greenland a key location for future shipping routes. Copenhagen has previously expressed willingness to allow more US troops on the island.Trump’s comments on Greenland come shortly after the US operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which has raised questions about the administration’s approach to international law.
