President Donald Trump has once again asserted that the United States “needs Greenland,” framing the issue as a matter of national security rather than access to natural resources. His remarks have reignited controversy and drawn swift rejection from both Denmark and Greenland, as well as support for their position from European allies.
Speaking to reporters in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday, Trump said the strategic importance of Greenland was growing due to increased military activity in the Arctic region.
“We need Greenland for national security, not for minerals,” Trump said. He claimed that Russian and Chinese warships are “everywhere” off the coast of Greenland, arguing that the United States must control the world’s largest island to protect its interests. “We have to have it,” the president added.
Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Danish Commonwealth, has long held strategic significance due to its location between North America and Europe and its proximity to the Arctic. Trump previously floated the idea of acquiring the island during his earlier term, a proposal that was widely dismissed at the time.
The issue resurfaced over the weekend after Trump appointed a new special envoy who openly expressed support for making Greenland part of the United States. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, announcing his appointment on the social media platform X, wrote: “It is an honor to serve you in this unpaid position to make Greenland a part of the United States.”
The response from Copenhagen and Nuuk was immediate and unequivocal. In a joint statement, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reaffirmed that any U.S. takeover was out of the question.
“Country borders and the sovereignty of states are rooted in international law. These are fundamental principles,” the statement said.
Norway and the European Union also voiced support for Denmark and Greenland. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide told NTB on Monday morning: “Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. We fully support the Danish authorities in this matter.”
Despite firm opposition from European leaders, Trump’s renewed rhetoric underscores growing geopolitical tensions in the Arctic, where melting ice, expanding shipping routes, and increased military presence by major powers have elevated the region’s strategic importance.
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