Just days after ‘attacking’ Venezuela and capturing its president, Nicolas Maduro, the United States has ramped up its quest for Greenland with its officials saying several options are being discussed for acquiring the semi-autonomous territory, including by use of military force.
That the military option is on the table and is being discussed has been confirmed by none other than the White House. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the US is also discussing the possible acquisition of Greenland from Denmark or the forming of a compact of free association.
“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region,” Leavitt said.
“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,” she added.
Trump has made it well known that he wants the issue to be resolved before the end of his second term. It was during his first term that Trump expressed his interest in acquiring Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory in Denmark.
On Monday, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller had told the US media that the Trump administration has made it its official position that Greenland should be part of the United States. Trump earlier over the weekend said the US needs Greenland, after ordering the military action in Venezuela.
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‘Attack on Greenland would mark the end of NATO’
Denmark has rejected Trump’s interest in Greenland, with its Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, stating that if America chooses to acquire its territory militarily, that would mark the end of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
“If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops. That is, including our NATO, and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War,” Frederiksen told the media this week.
According to NATO’s Article 5, if an alliance ally is attacked, all members will consider it an attack on them as well and do what they require to assist the attacked ally. Denmark is also a NATO member.
Greenland, too, has repeatedly rebuffed the US interest, stating it wishes to retain its current status.
Major European powers also rallied behind Greenland on Tuesday. In a joint statement, the leaders asserted that the Arctic territory belongs to its people and any decision on matters concerning it will be taken by Greenland and Denmark.
The joint statement was issued by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.