How Could Donald Trump Take Greenland?

Renewed remarks by President Donald Trump about taking Greenland have sparked global attention and raised questions about how such a move could even be possible.

The White House has confirmed that all options are being considered, ranging from diplomacy and economic leverage to influence campaigns — and, in theory, military action.

Greenland is geographically vast but sparsely populated, with around 58,000 residents and no standing army of its own. Denmark remains responsible for its defense, though it maintains limited forces across the island.

Analysts say a U.S. military operation could be executed quickly, partly because the United States already operates the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland. But such a move would be unprecedented: it would mean one NATO ally using force against another, with potentially devastating consequences for the alliance.

Buying Greenland has also been discussed, echoing a proposal floated by President Harry Truman in 1946. However, Denmark and Greenland have both stated the territory is not for sale, and any purchase would require congressional approval, Senate ratification, and likely European Union consent.

Experts say a more realistic scenario involves influence rather than force — encouraging Greenlandic independence from Denmark and later forming strategic partnerships.

Yet polls show that while many Greenlanders favor independence, few want to become part of the United States, leaving Trump’s ambitions facing steep political, legal and public resistance.