White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller has openly questioned Denmark’s territorial claim over Greenland while defending President Donald Trump’s plan to bring the Arctic island under US control. Miller argued that as NATO’s most powerful military force, the United States would be acting to protect the alliance’s security and broader Arctic interests.
His remarks followed a sharp warning from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who cautioned against dismissing Trump’s statements. “If the US attacks another NATO country, everything stops,” she said.
Trump has expressed interest in annexing the Danish territory on multiple occasions, but his rhetoric has grown more forceful since the dramatic US operation that led to the capture of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.
A day after that high-profile operation, Trump hinted at wider geopolitical changes, stating that “something has to be done” regarding Mexico, Cuba, and Colombia.
During a CNN appearance on Monday, Miller was asked about a tweet by his wife, Katie Miller, which showed a map of Greenland colored like the American flag, accompanied by the word “Soon.”
“The President has been clear for months now that the United States should be the nation that has Greenland as part of our overall security apparatus,” Miller said. “This has been the formal position of the US government since the beginning of this administration and also dates back to the previous Trump administration.”
When asked whether the US might use force to take Greenland, Miller insisted, “It wouldn’t be military action against Greenland,” noting that the island is home to only about 30,000 people.
He then challenged Denmark’s sovereignty over the territory, asking, “The true question is: How does Denmark claim authority over Greenland? What justifies their geographical claim? What is their basis for having Greenland as a colony of Denmark?”
Miller further argued that “nobody is going to fight the US militarily over the future of Greenland,” adding that American control is essential to secure the Arctic region and safeguard NATO’s strategic interests.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, has a population of around 57,000 and is covered by Denmark’s NATO membership, which includes the United States. However, Greenland itself is not an autonomous member of the military alliance.
NEVER TAKE TRUMP LIGHTLY
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Monday that she believes Trump is serious about his desire to annex Greenland.
“Unfortunately, I think the American president should be taken seriously when he says he wants Greenland,” Frederiksen told national broadcaster DR.
“Greenland has consistently stated that it does not wish to join the United States, and I have made it very clear where the Kingdom of Denmark stands. Everything stops if the US attacks another NATO nation,” she added.
Her warning came after Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen urged residents not to panic about a potential US takeover.
“We are not in a position where we anticipate an overnight takeover of the country. Greenland and Venezuela are not comparable. We are a democratic nation,” Nielsen said.
Greenland holds major strategic importance for the United States due to its location between Europe and North America, making it a critical part of the US ballistic missile defense system. The island’s vast mineral resources also align with Washington’s efforts to reduce dependence on Chinese exports.
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