Trump Advocates for U.S. Ownership of Greenland Amid Geopolitical Tensions

Sat Jan 10 2026 23:10:43 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a recent statement, President Donald Trump emphasized the need for the U.S. to 'own' Greenland to prevent Russian and Chinese influence in the region. This stance has sparked a significant international debate regarding sovereignty and military presence in the Arctic.

President Trump declared that the U.S. must own Greenland to thwart Russian and Chinese encroachment on the strategically important Arctic territory. He argued that ownership is essential for national security, prompting strong backlash from Denmark and Greenland officials, who insist the territory is not for sale. Trump’s comments come amidst heightened tensions surrounding U.S. military activities and geopolitical interests in the Arctic region.

President Donald Trump says the US needs to own Greenland to prevent Russia and China from doing so.

Countries have to have ownership and you defend ownership, you don't defend leases and we'll have to defend Greenland, Trump told reporters on Friday.

Trump's comments followed earlier remarks from the White House regarding possible negotiations to buy the semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, while also not excluding the possibility of forcibly annexing it.

Denmark and Greenland have firmly rejected the notion, with Denmark warning that military action would jeopardize the trans-Atlantic defense alliance.

Despite its low population density, Greenland's geographic position is strategic for monitoring missile threats and ships in the North Atlantic. Trump has claimed, without evidence, that the region is filled with Russian and Chinese ships.

The US maintains a military presence at the Pituffik base in Greenland, operational since World War II with over 100 stationed troops. Trump criticized a lease system, stating, Countries can't make nine-year deals or even 100-year deals, insisting that true national security requires ownership.

In subsequent remarks, Trump underscored his preference for not having Russia or China as neighbors in Greenland, stating, not going to happen. These perspectives have led NATO allies to express their support for Denmark's sovereignty, emphasizing collective security efforts.

Trump's provocative statements come on the heels of increased scrutiny regarding military actions in other regions, further complicating international relations in the Arctic, where resources are becoming more accessible due to climate change.