European Troops Arrive in Greenland as Trump Insists US Must Acquire Island

The United States has reaffirmed its intent to acquire Greenland, insisting that the arrival of European troops on the Arctic island will not alter President Donald Trump’s position that American control is essential for national security.

The White House said discussions between US officials and representatives from Denmark and Greenland were “productive,” but made it clear that recent European military deployments were irrelevant to Washington’s strategic objectives.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that troop movements by European nations would not influence the administration’s stance.

“I don’t think troops in Europe impact the president’s decision-making process, nor does it impact his goal of the acquisition of Greenland at all,” she said. “The president has made his priority quite clear. He wants the United States to acquire Greenland. He believes it is in the best interest of American national security.”

European Forces Move In

Troops from France, Germany, United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, and Netherlands began arriving in Greenland following Denmark’s decision to reinforce its military presence on the island.

The deployments, though limited in scale, are widely seen as a symbolic show of European unity and a reassurance to Copenhagen amid escalating rhetoric from Washington. Several of these countries are members of NATO, underlining the alliance’s interest in Arctic stability.

Trump’s Strategic Argument

Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland’s location and resources make it indispensable to US strategic interests. The island sits at a crucial crossroads in the Arctic, a region of growing competition involving Russia and China.

The US President has claimed that Denmark lacks the capacity to defend Greenland against future threats and has warned that Washington cannot allow rival powers to gain influence in the region. While Trump has not explicitly committed to military action, he has declined to rule it out — a stance that has triggered unease among European allies.

Denmark Pushes Back

Danish officials have firmly rejected the idea of US ownership. Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said talks with Washington were aimed at addressing security concerns through cooperation rather than sovereignty transfer.

Copenhagen maintains that Arctic defence should be handled within the NATO framework, not through unilateral control by any single country.

Greenland Rejects US Control

Greenland’s leadership has also pushed back strongly against Trump’s claims. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said continued dialogue was welcome but insisted that Greenland’s future was not negotiable.

“Greenland is not for sale,” Nielsen said. “Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States. Greenland does not want to be governed from the United States.”

Growing Arctic Tensions

The standoff highlights rising geopolitical competition in the Arctic, where melting ice has opened new shipping routes and access to untapped minerals. While the White House continues to frame Greenland as a strategic necessity, Denmark and its European allies argue that collective security — not acquisition — is the answer.

With European troops now on the ground and Washington refusing to soften its position, Greenland has emerged as a new flashpoint in transatlantic relations, testing the balance between alliance cooperation and unilateral ambition.