US President Donald Trump has doubled down on his insistence that the United States must annex Greenland, arguing that any alternative is “unacceptable.”
Repeating his claim that the move is necessary for national security, Trump said NATO “should be leading the way” in securing Greenland for the U.S., adding that the alliance would become “far more formidable and effective” if the territory were under American control.
His remarks came just hours before high-level talks between U.S., Danish, and Greenland officials. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt met with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
The meeting, which lasted about 90 minutes, did not include Trump. Danish and Greenland officials were scheduled to brief the press afterward at Denmark’s embassy in Washington.
While the talks were ongoing, the White House posted a cartoon-style image on social media showing a dog sled bearing the Greenland flag choosing between two paths—one leading to a bright White House and the other toward storm clouds marked China and Russia. The image was captioned, “Which way, Greenland man?”
Despite mounting pressure from Washington, Greenland has maintained that it has no interest in coming under U.S. control. In a sharp rebuke, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the territory would stand with Denmark if forced to choose.
“We are now facing a geopolitical crisis, and if we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark,” Nielsen said, adding that Greenland chooses NATO, the Kingdom of Denmark, and the European Union.
Nielsen has repeatedly urged Trump to end his annexation rhetoric, warning against what he described as pressure and disrespect. European leaders have rallied behind Greenland, stressing that decisions about the island belong solely to Denmark and Greenland.
Opposition has also emerged within Trump’s own Republican Party. Lawmakers have criticized the administration’s stance, warning that pressuring a NATO ally damages long-standing relationships and offers no strategic benefit.
Greenland’s strategic importance lies in its Arctic location between the U.S., Europe, and Russia, making it a key point for military monitoring and defense. The island already hosts a U.S. military base, but Trump has suggested a broader American presence is needed, citing increased Russian and Chinese activity in the region.
Beyond its location, Greenland is rich in rare earth minerals, a factor U.S. officials say aligns with America-first economic and security priorities.