U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly ordered American special operations commanders to draw up plans for an invasion of Greenland.
According to the report, a number of senior U.S. military officers oppose the idea. However, Trump’s policy adviser Stephen Miller is said to be the plan’s chief proponent.
European officials are also reportedly concerned that Trump may attempt to carry out the controversial move ahead of the U.S. midterm congressional elections scheduled for November 2026.
Trump has previously claimed that acquiring Greenland is necessary to prevent Russia and China from gaining control of the strategically important island.
“Countries must have ownership, and you defend ownership—you don’t defend a lease. And we have to defend Greenland,” Trump told reporters on Friday (Jan. 9, 2026).
He further stressed that the United States would pursue the acquisition of Greenland “the easy way” or “the hard way.”
The White House has stated that the U.S. government is considering the option of purchasing the semi-autonomous territory from Denmark, a fellow NATO member.
However, the statement did not rule out the possibility of a forced annexation.
These remarks sparked anger in Denmark. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen expressed his outrage and said he would summon the U.S. ambassador in Copenhagen to seek an official explanation.
In December 2025, Trump announced the appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as the U.S. special envoy for Greenland.
Landry later confirmed that Washington indeed plans to make the island part of U.S. territory.
In response, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen issued a joint statement warning the United States against seizing the island.
Both leaders emphasized the importance of respecting territorial integrity.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday (Jan. 7, 2026) that he intends to meet Danish authorities next week to discuss the situation in Greenland.
