US President Donald Trump said the United States must take control of Greenland to prevent Russia or China from gaining influence in the Arctic region.
Speaking to reporters at the White House during a meeting with oil industry executives, Trump said the US would act on Greenland “whether they like it or not.” He argued that without direct US control, rival powers could move in. “If we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland,” he said, adding that Washington would not accept either country as a neighbour.
Trump acknowledged that the US already maintains a military presence on the island under a 1951 defence agreement. However, he said existing arrangements do not provide enough security. According to Trump, ownership offers protection in a way that leases and agreements cannot. “You defend ownership. You don’t defend leases,” he said.
Trump says the US needs to own Greenland to prevent Russia or China from occupying it in the future https://t.co/RtezZgYNiL pic.twitter.com/4efluCClGx
— Reuters (@Reuters) January 10, 2026Greenland, home to about 57,000 people, governs itself as an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Trump and senior White House officials have reportedly discussed several options to bring the island under US control. These ideas include financial incentives for Greenlanders and, in extreme scenarios, the possible use of military power.
Read: Trump Considers Greenland Acquisition Via Military Option
European leaders have strongly rejected Trump’s remarks. Governments in Copenhagen and across Europe have stressed that only Greenland and Denmark can decide their future relationship. Despite being NATO allies with the US, several European states have voiced concern over Washington’s tone.
Earlier this week, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Britain and Denmark issued a joint statement. The countries reaffirmed that decisions about Greenland’s status rest solely with Greenland and Denmark, signalling united opposition to any unilateral move by the United States.
