The United States is seeking to acquire Greenland through a purchase rather than military force, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, as Washington’s increasingly assertive rhetoric over the Danish autonomous territory triggers concern across Europe.
According to US media, Rubio made the remarks during a closed-door briefing with members of Congress, stressing that recent statements by US officials should not be interpreted as signalling an imminent military intervention. The Wall Street Journal reported that Rubio underlined Washington’s preference for a negotiated acquisition of the island.
At the same time, the New York Times reported that President Donald Trump has instructed aides to prepare an updated plan for the acquisition of Greenland, reviving an idea he had already floated during his first term in office between 2017 and 2021.
White House comments fuel European concern
Rubio’s clarifications came a day after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the US administration was examining a “range of options” for acquiring Greenland, explicitly including the possible use of the military.
Leavitt said Trump considers Greenland’s acquisition a matter of national security for the United States, citing the island’s strategic importance in the Arctic and the need to counter rival powers in the region.
The comments prompted swift reactions in Europe, with both the Greenlandic government and Denmark calling for dialogue with Washington in order to clarify US intentions.
Denmark rejects security claims
Denmark has pushed back strongly against US assertions of an expanded Chinese and Russian presence on the island. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said such claims misrepresent the reality on the ground and accused Trump of a “misreading” of Denmark’s ability to guarantee Greenland’s security.
“Denmark safeguards the realm,” Rasmussen said, adding that there is no benefit in dramatizing the situation. Copenhagen has highlighted recent investments in Arctic security, noting that around 90 billion Danish kroner, roughly €1.2bn, have been allocated over the past year.
European backing for Copenhagen
France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement expressing support for Denmark, stressing that only Denmark and Greenland have the right to decide the island’s future.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he could not imagine the United States violating Denmark’s national sovereignty.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen went further, warning that any attack against a NATO member state would have far-reaching consequences for global security.
“This is not a dispute only with the Kingdom of Denmark, but with Europe as a whole,” Frederiksen said in an interview with Danish broadcaster DR.
The foreign ministers of the Nordic countries also issued a joint statement reaffirming the principle of sovereignty.
Greenland not for sale
Greenland, backed by Denmark, has repeatedly stated that it is not for sale and that its future will be decided by its own people. The island, home to around 57,000 inhabitants, is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and a member of NATO through Denmark.
Despite this, Trump and senior figures in his administration have continued to frame Greenland as part of what they view as the United States’ natural sphere of influence. The rhetoric has intensified in recent weeks, particularly following Washington’s military operation in Venezuela.
Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, went as far as to describe Greenland’s acquisition as an “official position of the US government”, insisting that “Greenland must be part of the United States”.
For now, Europe is drawing a clear line, signalling that any discussion about Greenland’s future must respect sovereignty, international law and the wishes of its people.