1:31A Greenland flag flies beside the flag of Denmark on March 11, 2025, in Ilulissat, Greenland. Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed lawmakers during a confidential briefing on Capitol Hill earlier this week that the U.S. is looking to acquire Greenland, sources informed ABC News.
Rubio stated to reporters following a briefing on Wednesday that acquiring the territory has always been President Donald Trump's objective.
"Well, that's always been the president's intent from the very beginning. He mentioned it very early on. I mean, this is not a new concept. He discussed it during his first term, and he's not the first U.S. president to explore how we could obtain Greenland. There's an interest there," Rubio told reporters.
The secretary of state did not respond to inquiries regarding the potential use of military force to gain control of the territory, which has been suggested as a possibility by the White House.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, addresses the media on the day of a briefing for the House of Representatives concerning the situation in Venezuela, on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 7, 2026.Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
"If the president identifies a threat to the national security of the United States, every president has the option to respond with military means," Rubio stated. "As a diplomat, which is what I am now and what we focus on, we always prefer to resolve it through alternative methods."
Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark with its own elected administration, while Denmark's parliament manages international issues.
Trump and his advisors have been discussing "a range of options" for acquiring Greenland, including the potential use of military force.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated on Wednesday during a press briefing at the White House that the Trump administration is not dismissing the use of military force, recognizing that while diplomacy is always the primary approach, “the president keeps his options open.”
“All options are always available to President Trump as he considers what is in the best interests of the United States,” Leavitt explained when asked why the White House would not exclude the possibility of force. “But I will just say that the President’s first option has always been diplomacy.”
She then dismissed the idea that the president was unwilling to collaborate with the Danes.
“Well, who said diplomacy isn't occurring behind the scenes? I mean, the president is indeed interested in diplomacy. His national security team shares that interest as well. And of course, he's always ready to communicate with everyone and listen to their concerns,” Leavitt stated. “However, the president is the leader of the United States of America, and he's always going to be very clear about what he perceives as our nation's best interests,” she added.
Greenland’s location above the Arctic Circle makes it an attractive center for international trade with sought-after access to mineral resources — with China and Russia actively trying to assert their influence over vast areas of the region.
A Greenland flag flies near the flag of Denmark on March 11, 2025, in Ilulissat, Greenland.Joe Raedle/Getty Images
When asked what the U.S. would gain by seizing control of Greenland, Leavitt responded that it would provide “greater control over the Arctic region and ensure that China and Russia, as well as our adversaries, cannot continue their aggression in this crucial and strategic area. Additionally, there would be many other advantages, which the president and his national security team are currently discussing.”
The idea of acquiring the territory, particularly through military
Sourse: abcnews.go.com