European leaders from Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Denmark, and the United Kingdom have pledged to continue defending Greenland’s sovereignty following remarks by Stephen Miller, President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, who suggested that no country would “fight the U.S. militarily” over the future of the territory.
In a joint statement, the leaders of the seven countries said they would “not stop defending” the principles of the United Nations Charter as they apply to Greenland, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders. They called on the United States, as a fellow NATO member, to uphold the same principles.
The statement followed comments made by Miller in a CNN interview, in which he argued that it would be easy for the U.S. to take control of Greenland due to its small population. While he did not explicitly rule out the use of force, Miller said there was “no need to even think or talk about” a military operation because “nobody is going to fight the U.S. militarily over the future of Greenland.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded on Monday, warning that any attempt to seize Greenland would constitute an unprecedented attack on a fellow NATO member and would threaten the global security alliance that has existed for nearly 80 years.
Criticism also emerged within the United States. Republican Representative Don Bacon of Illinois, a retired U.S. Air Force general, described Miller’s comments as “really dumb,” emphasizing that Greenland and Denmark are American allies. “There is no upside to demeaning our friends,” Bacon said, adding that the remarks risked causing long-lasting diplomatic damage.
“Greenland belongs to its people,” the European leaders said in their Tuesday statement. “It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
Former President Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of acquiring Greenland, though previous remarks were largely dismissed after firm pushback from Danish and Greenlandic officials. However, following Trump’s recent decision to authorize a surprise operation that led to the removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, European leaders have moved swiftly to reinforce their support for Denmark’s sovereignty over the island.
Leaders from more than a dozen countries, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, expressed concern on Monday over Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland. Anitta Hipper, foreign policy spokesperson for the European Union, reiterated that the EU would “not stop defending” the principle of national sovereignty.
Trump’s interest in Greenland is driven by several strategic factors. The island’s geographic position has gained increasing importance as melting Arctic ice opens new North Atlantic shipping routes, drawing interest from Russia and China. Trump has argued that Denmark does not invest enough in Greenland’s defense and has claimed the island is surrounded by Russian and Chinese vessels.
The United States already maintains a military base in Greenland, which Vice President JD Vance visited in March. Full control of the island would significantly strengthen America’s strategic position in the Arctic. Greenland is also rich in rare-earth minerals, and scientists believe its continental shelf may contain substantial oil and gas reserves.
Miller framed Trump’s stance on Greenland as part of a broader shift in U.S. foreign policy. “We live in a world in which you can talk all you want about international niceties,” he said during the CNN interview. “But we live in a world that is governed by strength, force, and power.”
The State Department echoed that message on Monday, posting an image of a stern-looking Trump on social media with the caption: “This is OUR Hemisphere, and President Trump will not allow our security to be threatened.”
What remains unclear is whether the administration plans similar actions elsewhere. Following a classified briefing on developments in Venezuela, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he received no assurances that the U.S. would refrain from pursuing comparable actions in other countries.
After Maduro’s capture, Trump openly suggested that Cuba, Colombia, and Mexico could be potential targets. He described Cuba as a “failing nation,” warned Colombian President Gustavo Petro to “watch his ass,” and said “something’s going to have to be done with Mexico.” He also threatened possible intervention in Iran should the country continue its violent crackdown on protesters.
This story was last updated at 6:38 p.m. AST on Tuesday.
