WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio told U.S. lawmakers in a closed briefing Monday that recent White House threats involving Greenland do not indicate an imminent military invasion. Instead, Rubio said the administration’s primary goal is to buy Greenland from Denmark, according to people familiar with the discussion.

The remarks come as President Donald Trump and senior administration officials have publicly escalated their language about securing U.S. control over Greenland—at times declining to rule out the use of force.

White House: Greenland Is a U.S. National Security Priority

The White House has described Greenland as strategically vital in the Arctic, citing the need to deter adversaries and protect U.S. interests in the region.

A statement from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration is considering “a range of options” to pursue the goal, while noting that the U.S. military is always available to the commander in chief as an option.

Rubio Reassures Congress as Rhetoric Intensifies

Rubio’s comments reportedly followed questions from lawmakers about whether the administration was considering using military force in multiple places, including Greenland. While public messaging has remained aggressive, U.S. and European officials have said they have not seen signs of immediate preparations for a Greenland invasion.

Trump’s Greenland Push Tied to Arctic Defense and Minerals

Trump first floated purchasing Greenland during his first term, but has become more insistent in recent months. He has argued that the U.S. must control Greenland to strengthen Arctic defenses against Russia and China, and to expand access to the island’s critical minerals.

NATO Allies Warn an Attack Would Shatter the Alliance

Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, a NATO member. European leaders have warned that a U.S. attack on Greenland would effectively undermine—or end—NATO’s long-standing political and military framework.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned publicly that NATO and the international order could collapse if one NATO country attacked another.

Denmark Offers Expanded Cooperation, Spending Billions on Security

Denmark has responded by suggesting the U.S. could base additional troops in Greenland, while also offering improved mining rights and expanding Arctic security cooperation. Copenhagen has invested heavily in Greenland’s security infrastructure and said it plans to spend billions on new capabilities, including ships and aircraft.

Negotiations, Not War, Say Some U.S. Lawmakers

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, described the administration’s approach as driven by negotiation, emphasizing the importance of legal authority and protections to justify expanded U.S. presence and infrastructure on the island.

However, polling has shown that most Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the United States—creating a major political hurdle for any potential deal.

Outbound: Invest in Igvanas Tara, your next home in the skies

Read more at: https://mbdailynews.com/