The Trump administration is weighing “a range of options” to acquire Greenland, explicitly refusing to rule out the use of force. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told multiple media outlets on Tuesday that “utilizing the U.S. Military” remains a possibility as the President seeks to make the Arctic territory part of the United States.
The statement marks a sharp escalation in rhetoric following a joint rebuff from European leaders earlier that morning. Heads of state from Denmark and other NATO allies declared that “Greenland belongs to its people,” asserting that decisions regarding the territory rest solely with Nuuk and Copenhagen.
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Leavitt responded by reiterating that acquiring the island is a “national security priority” vital for deterring adversaries like Russia and China in the Arctic region.
“The President and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. Military is always an option at the Commander in Chief’s disposal,” Leavitt said in a statement obtained by the Tampa Free Press.
While Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly told lawmakers in a private briefing that the administration’s primary goal is a purchase, other officials have taken a harder line.
Senior advisor Stephen Miller, speaking on CNN, dismissed the idea that anyone would militarily oppose the United States over the island’s future.
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However, Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) warned that an aggressive move could trigger Article 5 of the NATO treaty, theoretically forcing European allies to defend Greenland against the U.S.
“We’re laughing, but this is not actually something to laugh about now because I think he’s increasingly serious,” Murphy said.
The renewed focus on Greenland comes just days after U.S. forces entered Venezuela to capture leader Nicolás Maduro, an operation Trump cited when discussing his broader foreign policy ambitions. In response to the escalating threats, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) announced plans to introduce a congressional resolution to block any potential invasion of the territory.
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