Trump has cited national security and Arctic strategy as reasons for US control, triggering diplomatic unease in Europe. European leaders issued a joint statement reaffirming that Greenland’s future can only be decided by Denmark and Greenland.
BY PC Bureau
January 7, 2026: Danish and Greenlandic officials have formally sought an early ministerial-level meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address President Donald Trump’s renewed assertions that the United States should acquire Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
The request, announced on January 6 by Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Motzfeldt, follows what they described as a series of unanswered appeals throughout 2025. In a statement posted on Greenland’s government website, the two ministers said the proposed meeting is intended to discuss the United States’ “striking statements” on Greenland.
Trump has repeatedly highlighted Greenland’s strategic importance for US national security, particularly in the Arctic amid growing competition with Russia and China. On Sunday, he told reporters, “We need Greenland from a national security situation,” adding that he would address the issue in “about two months.” He has also argued that Denmark has failed to adequately protect the island.
White House officials have said the administration is examining “a range of options” to acquire Greenland, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that the use of the US military is “always an option.” However, according to sources familiar with a classified briefing to congressional leaders on Monday, Rubio indicated that the administration’s preferred approach would be to purchase Greenland from Denmark rather than pursue military action.
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While European leaders are praising America’s Action in Venezuela, Trump says “we need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and the European Union needs us to have it, and they know that.”
What will European union do now ? pic.twitter.com/hqI3SDhjmL
— Koustuv 🇮🇳 🧭 (@srdmk01) January 5, 2026
Trump’s remarks have drawn sharp rebukes from European allies. On January 6, leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in a joint statement affirming that “Greenland belongs to its people” and that decisions on its future rest solely with Denmark and Greenland.
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The statement underscored Arctic security as a collective priority, noting that NATO has identified the region as strategically vital and that European allies are increasing their presence and investments. It stressed that Arctic security must be achieved in line with the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen welcomed the European show of support and called for “respectful dialogue” with the United States grounded in international law. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, after speaking with Rubio, said the secretary rejected comparisons with recent US military actions elsewhere and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to NATO.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, is rich in rare earth minerals and has gained strategic importance as melting Arctic ice opens new shipping routes. It also hosts the US-operated Pituffik Space Base under a 1951 defence agreement, providing missile warning and space surveillance capabilities for NATO.
Danish officials have rejected Trump’s claims of extensive Chinese influence or military activity in Greenlandic waters, while announcing fresh investments in Arctic defence. Bipartisan US lawmakers, including Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis, have also criticised the rhetoric, urging respect for Danish sovereignty.
As diplomatic engagement intensifies, the episode highlights growing strains within the NATO alliance over Trump’s renewed territorial ambitions in the Arctic.
