President Donald Trump is exploring how to take control of Greenland, and using the US military is “always an option”, the White House said Tuesday, further upping tensions with NATO ally Denmark.
Washington’s stark warning came despite Greenland and Denmark both calling for a speedy meeting with the United States to clear up “misunderstandings”.
The US military intervention in Venezuela has reignited Trump’s designs on the autonomous Danish territory in the Arctic, which has untapped rare earth deposits and could be a vital player as melting polar ice opens up new shipping routes.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that “acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States”, to deter adversaries like Russia and China.
