Trump, Greenland, and the Limits of Territorial Acquisition Under International Law 

President Donald Trump has articulated interest in purchasing Greenland since his first term. In August of 2019, President Trump offered to buy Greenland, but Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen declined the offer, calling it an absurd discussion. But for President Trump, the purchase would provide significant security benefits to the United States. Security concerns over missile attacks drives President Trump’s interest and is the reason for the operation of Pitufik Space Base, the only remaining U.S. military base on the island. Greenland is also home to vital minerals located under layers of ice, complicating the extraction process but providing economic opportunity. Although President Trump hopes to expand economic rights in Greenland, current U.S. companies have been unsuccessful mining the territory. 

The key factor complicating the territorial acquisition is Greenland’s self-governing ability. Belonging to the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen articulated the purchasing decision should be done by Greenlanders, not between Danish and American leaders. Independent sovereignty is an avenue for Greenland if they wish to separate from Denmark. For the U.S. to acquire Greenland, Greenland would first separate from Denmark, therefore allowing Greenland’s Parliament to sell to the U.S. 

Additionally, disapproval from European leaders’ conflict with President Trump’s interest, with some NATO countries releasing statements articulating their defense of Greenland’s sovereignty. However, the NATO alliance has issued no formal statement, leading Denmark to become increasingly frustrated with lack of publicized support if President Trump attacked Greenland militarily. Prime Minister Frederiksen has warned military action would be detrimental to the preservation of NATO. Concerns over military action contribute to the growing skepticism of NATO stability and international conflict. 

Already, the United States has military bases on the island, with a 1951 agreement between the U.S. and Denmark recently expanded in 2023 to give the U.S. military access to Danish bases. With the ability to operate military bases, aircraft, and ships surrounding the island, opportunity to increase security measures within the terms of the 1951 agreement seem available. Frederiksen has pushed the agreement provides enough defense for the United States without purchasing the territory. Critics of the purchase argue rather than taking the territory, the U.S. could ask to increase military operations on the island to relieve security concerns. If President Trump does not honor the 1951 agreement with Denmark, increased U.S. tensions with Western Europe puts the U.S. at greater risk for failed negotiations. 

In an interview at the Oval Office on Wednesday, January 7^th, President Trump said international law does not dictate his purchasing power, but rather his power is limited by his own morality. Although President Trump may be successful in governing national affairs with limited constraints, rising conflict with longstanding allies are likely to escalate if President Trump does not consider Greenland’s independence when attempting to acquire the territory. 

As of early January 2026, Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt indicated both Greenland and Denmark leaders set a meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. Whether this meeting results in a purchase of Greenland remains to be seen. If the meeting is unsuccessful, President Trump has previously stated he is willing to take Greenland “the hard way.”  

Article Written by Sophie O’Donnell

Sources:

Danish PM Says Trump’s Idea of Selling Greenland to US is Absurd, REUTERS (Aug. 18, 2019), available at https://www.reuters.com/article/world/danish-pm-says-trumps-idea-of-selling-greenland-to-us-is-absurd-idUSKCN1V9076/ (last visited Jan. 12, 2026). 

Stephanie Dazio & Seung Min Kim, Rubio plans to meet with Danish officials next week to talk about U.S. interest in Greenland, AP NEWS (Jan. 8, 2026), available at https://apnews.com/article/trump-european-union-greenland-denmark-rubio-frederiksen-4d18970667b130d293ccaf4c0d55c300 (last visited Jan. 12, 2026). 

‘We do not want to be Americans’: Greenland parties reject Trump’s threats, ALJAZEERA (Jan. 10, 2026), available at https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/10/we-do-not-want-to-be-americans-greenland-parties-reject-trumps-threats (last visited Jan. 12, 2026). 

Jeffrey Gettleman, et al., Buy Greenland? Take It? Why? An Old Pact Already Gives Trump a Free Hand, THE NEW YORK TIMES (Jan. 7, 2026), available at https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/world/europe/trump-greenland-denmark-us-defense-pact.html (last visited Jan. 13, 2026).