Wednesday, January 7, 2026- In a stark and controversial set of remarks this week, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller asserted that the United States has the right to take control of Greenland, suggesting the Arctic territory should be part of the U.S. and questioning Denmark’s authority over the autonomous region.
During a televised interview, Miller said the U.S. “should have Greenland as part of the United States” and pointed to America’s military strength and NATO role as justification, adding that “nobody’s going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland.” His comments did not explicitly rule out the use of force, even as he framed the argument around national security and strategic interests in the Arctic.
The remarks quickly alarmed European and NATO allies, who reaffirmed Greenland’s sovereignty and rejected any suggestion of U.S. annexation. Leaders from Denmark and several major European nations stressed that Greenland belongs to its people and remains under Danish governance in accordance with international law and NATO principles.
Denmark’s prime minister warned that any attempt to seize territory from a NATO ally would severely undermine the alliance, while Greenlandic officials made clear they have no desire to become part of the United States.
The controversy unfolds amid growing geopolitical competition in the Arctic, where melting ice is opening new shipping routes and access to critical mineral resources. While U.S. officials have long described Greenland as strategically important to national defense, critics argue Miller’s rhetoric risks serious diplomatic fallout and strains relationships with key allies.
Even some domestic political figures have warned that such statements could weaken long-standing security partnerships at a time when unity is increasingly critical.
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