Trump's Aide Claims No One Would Defend Greenland Against the US

Thu Jan 08 2026 20:10:50 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a controversial statement, Stephen Miller asserts that the US's interest in Greenland would go unchallenged, igniting debates about territorial claims and NATO's future.

Stephen Miller, a notable aide to Donald Trump, declared that no nation would oppose the US should it seek control over Greenland. In a recent CNN interview, Miller reiterated the Trump administration's stance on the strategic importance of Greenland, sparking concerns over NATO's integrity and the region's political stability. This statement follows Trump’s insistence on acquiring Greenland, which elicited a defensive response from Danish officials and European allies.

One of Donald Trump's most influential aides has said Greenland should become part of the US in order to protect NATO and the Arctic.

Asked in an interview with CNN to confirm the US would rule out the use of force to annex the semi-autonomous region of fellow NATO member Denmark, Stephen Miller said, nobody's going to fight the US over the future of Greenland.\

On Sunday, Trump repeated his insistence that the US needs Greenland - to the consternation of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who said an attack by the US would spell the end of NATO.

Six European allies rallied to Denmark's support with a joint statement on Tuesday.

Greenland belongs to its people, and only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relations, read the statement by the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Denmark.

In his CNN interview, Miller stated that it was the formal position of the US government that Greenland should be part of the US. He further questioned Denmark's claim to Greenland, stating, By what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? What is their basis of claiming Greenland as a colony of Denmark?

The top Trump aide also emphasized that the US is the power of NATO. For the US to secure the Arctic region, to protect and defend NATO and NATO interests, obviously Greenland should be part of the US.

The issue of Greenland's future resurfaced following US military actions in Venezuela, during which elite troops executed a raid aiming to apprehend President Nicolás Maduro.

Following the raid, Trump indicated that the US would run Venezuela for an unspecified duration, hinting at a return to a policy reminiscent of 1823 that promotes US supremacy in its sphere of influence in the Western hemisphere.

In response to these developments, Miller's wife shared a map of Greenland adorned in American flag colors, adding a foreboding caption of SOON.\

This rhetoric has reignited fears that the US may consider aggressive strategies to secure control over Greenland, a strategic location abundant in natural resources essential for advanced technological sectors.

Despite extensive self-governance since 1979, Greenland's defense and foreign policy remain under Danish jurisdiction. While a majority of Greenlanders favor eventual independence, polls consistently indicate widespread opposition to joining the US.