WASHINGTON/OSLO/THE HAGUE/UNITED NATIONS - US President Donald Trump and his team are weighing "a range of options" to acquire Denmark's Greenland, including "utilizing the US military," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement on Tuesday.
"The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the US military is always an option at the commander-in-chief's disposal," Leavitt told Xinhua in an emailed statement.
She said that "President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it's vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region."
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said Monday that nobody would fight the United States if it tried to seize Greenland, which is Denmark's autonomous territory.
It was "the formal position of the US government that Greenland should be part of the US," Miller said in an interview with CNN.
"We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defense," Trump reiterated in a phone interview with The Atlantic on Sunday, reaffirming that Venezuela may not be the last country subject to US intervention while claiming it was up to others to decide what a US large-scale strike against Venezuela means for Greenland.
"If the US chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops, including NATO and thus the security that has been established since the end of the Second World War," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned on Monday in response.
Greenland sovereignty
Leaders of seven European countries on Tuesday reaffirmed that Greenland "belongs to its people," stressing that issues concerning Denmark and Greenland must be decided solely by Denmark and Greenland, according to a joint statement.
The statement, released by Denmark's Prime Minister's Office, was signed by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
"Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland," the statement said.
The leaders underscored that Arctic security remains a key priority for Europe and is critical for international and transatlantic security. They noted that NATO has made clear the Arctic region is a priority and that European allies are increasing their presence there.
The statement noted that the Kingdom of Denmark, including Greenland, is part of NATO, and said security in the Arctic must be achieved collectively with NATO allies, including the United States, by upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders.
READ MORE: Danish PM: If US attacks another NATO country, everything stops
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof confirmed Tuesday that the Netherlands fully supports a joint statement on Greenland issued by leaders of seven European countries.
"Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland," the joint statement said.
Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel underscored that Greenland plays a key role in safeguarding Arctic security. "The Netherlands encourages dialogue and cooperation between NATO allies to further strengthen our security there," he posted on social media platform X on Tuesday, adding it is up to Denmark and Greenland to decide the future of the island.
Arctic security
Meanwhile, foreign ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden issued a joint statement on Tuesday emphasizing their collective dedication to preserving security, stability and cooperation in the Arctic.
The ministers underscored that Arctic security rests on respect for the UN Charter and international law, particularly the inviolability of borders. Denmark, including Greenland, was highlighted as a founding member of NATO with a long-standing defense agreement with the United States, facilitating increased security cooperation, according to the statement.
They also reaffirmed that decisions regarding Denmark and Greenland are to be made solely by Denmark and Greenland.
Also on Tuesday, a UN spokesperson said that the United Nations believes in the sanctity of the territorial integrity of its member states, and that is a position of principle the world body will continue to defend.
The United Nations has noted with "concern" the rhetoric around Greenland, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, at a daily briefing, in response to a question on Greenland posed by Xinhua.
