The White House confirmed Tuesday that President Donald Trump and his administration are considering “a range of options” to acquire Greenland, including the possible use of the U.S. military, escalating concerns among U.S. allies and global markets.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNBC that President Trump views Greenland as a critical national security priority, citing increased Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic region. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, which, like the United States, is a member of NATO.
“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States,” 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 U.S. military is always an option at the Commander in Chief’s disposal.”
European Leaders Push Back
Leavitt’s comments came shortly after leaders from Denmark and other European NATO countries issued a joint statement rejecting Trump’s increasingly vocal push to obtain Greenland.
“Greenland belongs to its people,” the statement said. “It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
Despite the backlash, Trump has continued to argue that U.S. control of Greenland is necessary to deter adversaries and secure American interests in the Arctic.
Buying Greenland Still Preferred Option
While military options were not ruled out, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly told lawmakers in a closed briefing that the administration’s primary objective remains purchasing Greenland from Denmark.
Trump has repeatedly floated controversial territorial ambitions in recent months, including discussions about Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal. While some officials previously dismissed these remarks as rhetorical, recent U.S. military action in Venezuela has prompted lawmakers to take Trump’s statements more seriously.
Venezuela Operation Raises Alarm
Concerns intensified after the U.S. military entered Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Trump later said the U.S. would oversee Venezuela’s transition and allow American oil companies to rebuild the country’s energy infrastructure.
When asked whether the Venezuela intervention set a precedent for Greenland, Trump told The Atlantic that he would leave that interpretation to others.
Democratic lawmakers reacted sharply. Rep. Jim McGovern called Trump’s Greenland rhetoric dangerous, while Sen. Chris Murphy warned that NATO’s Article 5 would obligate member states to defend Greenland even against the U.S., if necessary.
Congressional Resistance Builds
On Tuesday, Sen. Ruben Gallego announced plans to introduce a resolution aimed at blocking any U.S. military action against Greenland.
“Trump is telling us exactly what he wants to do,” Gallego said. “We must stop him before he invades another country on a whim.”
White House senior advisor Stephen Miller echoed Trump’s stance, stating that the U.S. “should have Greenland as part of the United States,” while downplaying the likelihood of military resistance.
Market and Trading Implications
Trump’s expanding geopolitical ambitions have implications beyond politics. Heightened geopolitical uncertainty often influences forex trading strategies, impacts indices trading, and affects global risk sentiment across commodities and currencies.
Such developments also tend to drive interest in alternative assets, increasing attention toward crypto investment as traders look for hedges during periods of political instability. As a result, volatility across traditional markets frequently spills over into the crypto market, especially during periods of heightened global tension.
For traders and investors, Greenland’s situation underscores how geopolitical risk remains a powerful driver of market behavior in forex, indices, commodities, and digital assets alike.
