U.S. Has Many Options on Greenland--Now Is the Time To Act

RealClear Politics ^ | January 07, 2026 | Alexander B. Gray

[E. Pluribus Unum]

President Trump’s decisive action against the illegitimate Maduro regime in Venezuela has focused world attention on the Western Hemisphere. This is all to the good, as the Trump administration has made clear the priority Washington attaches to its own neighborhood. The recent National Security Strategy emphasized that after three decades of counterproductive wars in the Middle East and South Asia, this administration would prioritize defense of the American homeland and our own hemisphere. It further established the “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine, holding that “extra-hemispheric powers” (think China, Russia, and Iran) would not be permitted to meddle in the hemisphere. Maduro’s connivance with all three contributed to his downfall under this long-overdue recalibration of America’s core interests.

Since the Maduro operation, speculation has abounded as to whether the president will pursue further action under the rubric of “hemispheric defense,” the traditional American strategic concept of fortifying key defensive nodes across the hemisphere. Greenland, which the president has long expressed interest in bringing closer to the United States, represents the most important and strategically necessary step in furthering America’s hemispheric defense umbrella. And while President Trump has greatly advanced the conversation on Greenland’s criticality to U.S. national security, he is not the first commander in chief to actively seek to acquire Greenland: Presidents from Andrew Johnson to Woodrow Wilson to Franklin Roosevelt to Dwight Eisenhower have all pursued acquisition of the world’s largest island.

With the momentum building for the Trump administration to expand upon its appropriate and overdue prioritization of the Western Hemisphere and its defense, the president can take several appropriate and proportional actions that advance his very real interest in bringing Greenland closer to the United States. Such actions are warranted by the extraordinary threat posed to U.S. national security should adversaries like China and Russia gain...

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TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: greenland; trumpcorollary; whoispayingforit

[Theoria]

The pivot has been instantly to creating a hemispheric gas station. Are the drug operations neutralized down there? Very fast pivot.

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

Makes a lot of sense. Here's point 1), from the article:

First, the administration should do exactly what Denmark has been asking it to do – request expansive military access under the terms of the 1951 Defense of Greenland Agreement. Copenhagen repeatedly argues that Washington does not need closer relations with Greenland because it enjoys broad military access under the terms of the 1951 treaty, yet has rarely exercised those rights in recent decades. President Trump should take this issue off the table immediately by requesting Danish cooperation in transferring substantial U.S. assets to Greenland, including anti-submarine warfare aircraft; Arctic training and support personnel and equipment; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets; and appropriate Special Operations units. The administration could follow this quickly with a larger proposal for a more robust facilities presence in Greenland, to include naval and air facilities and permanent training installations; the establishment of a permanent Joint Task Force Greenland, commanded by a two-star officer; and the upgrading of Pittufik Space Base to a flag officer billet.

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

The article does reasonably well, until it gets to the last point:

Finally, to make clear the long-term view of Greenland as an integral part of the Western Hemisphere and a key node in hemispheric defense, the administration can designate Greenland as a “Tier-1 Strategic Territory of the United States,” bureaucratic nomenclature equivalent to Guam or Diego Garcia.

That's pretty much a no go.

[Right_Wing_Madman]

the president will pursue further action under the rubric of “hemispheric defense,”

[toddausauras]

Take it. Before someone else does.

[gibsonguy]

That map looks like an alignment that precedes WW3.

[gibsonguy]

+1

[Forward the Light Brigade]

We must occupy it and make a deal with the people who live there. Give em—US citizenship. Help better their lives. Make it a territory then state.

[Dilbert San Diego]

I’m sure I’m missing something with this business about Greenland.

Greenland is important to the defense of America and the western hemisphere. Greenland is a self governing possession of Denmark. Denmark is an ally because they are a member of NATO. We have had an air force base in Greenland for many years.

So considering all of this, we already have a military presence in Greenland. I’m sure that Denmark and Greenland government could be amenable to us having more of a military presence for their own defense, as well as ours.

Sorry to be so long winded but, considering all of this, why is there all this talk that somehow Greenland should become an American possession? They are already an ally of ours, and we already have a military presence there.

[USA-FRANCE]

Indeed.

America already has all it wants concerning Greenland.
A deal was signed 1951 which gives America FULL ACESSS to Greenland.
America can bring in as much military equipment and troops it wants, right now. It was agreed upon in 1951.

There is already an operating US base in Greenland with 200 military US personnel. Therefore, taking Greenland by force is something that will never happen. American presence is already present, and only needs to be multiplied.

The 1951 agreement has already fixed ALL these issues.

[Right_Wing_Madman]

why is there all this talk that somehow Greenland should become an American possession? They are already an ally of ours, and we already have a military presence there.

Trump is looking ahead in the 21st century, instead of behind in the post-war 20th century. NATO won't be around forever and alliances are always temporary.

[Kleon]

Sorry to be so long winded but, considering all of this, why is there all this talk that somehow Greenland should become an American possession? They are already an ally of ours, and we already have a military presence there.

The melting of the Artic has changed a lot of things regarding natural resources and shipping routes, making Greenland vital to America's future.

[Golden Eagle]

Map is not correct, per my understanding of those who support the separation of the world into 3 huge military/communistic hellholes run by strongmen.

The whole left side of the map representing the American continents would be the American sphere.

Russia would own the top of the rest to include Europe.

China would own the bottom of the rest.

Studies and simulations have indicated it would be constant warfare between the three, with two of the three commonly forming alliances to pound the third into submission, before the alliances all change again.

[tsowellfan]

Trump is looking ahead in the 21st century, instead of behind in the post-war 20th century. NATO won’t be around forever and alliances are always temporary.

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Good point

[Right_Wing_Madman]

Map is not correct...Russia would own the top of the rest to include Europe.

For the continent today, Islamic cultural influence is a thousand times greater than Russian influence. Below is a recent photo from Italy, supposedly the epicenter of Christianity for the last 600 years (since Constantinople was run over by the Turks).

[Golden Eagle]

According some searches I just did, the percentage of Muslims in Russia is roughly twice what it is in the EU. If you have some different data I’d be happy to look.

[Gasshog]

I put in another post give all the Greenlanders a Free Trump Gold Card.

[Gasshog]

Gotta wonder what old Sun Tzu would think about that Enemy’s posture when they are not quite situational aware...

[Right_Wing_Madman]

According some searches I just did, the percentage of Muslims in Russia is roughly twice what it is in the EU. If you have some different data I’d be happy to look.

Instead of statistics (which Mark Twain said were dubious), use your eyes, feelings, and instincts. It feels like Islam is controlling Europe and it doesn't feel like Islam is controlling Russia.