🔗 Share this article Stephen Miller Escalates Assertions Regarding the Acquisition of Greenland A key figure from Donald Trump's senior advisors has increased tensions on Denmark by questioning Copenhagen’s claim to Greenland. Military Intervention Dismissed The president’s deputy chief of staff, also claimed the use of armed force would not be needed to assume control of the northern landmass because “no nation would engage the United States militarily over the fate of Greenland”. “The idea of military action against Greenland? Greenland has 30,000 inhabitants people,” Miller inaccurately claimed, the correct number being closer to 57,000. He also suggested that Denmark does not have a legitimate right to the region, which is a former Danish colony and remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Growing Tensions These remarks follow a period of increasing friction between the two NATO allies after the US president’s renewed calls to acquire Greenland. The Danish foreign policy committee has convened an emergency session to discuss the bilateral ties with the United States. In his interview, Miller asserted that dominion of the island could be achieved without armed conflict due to its limited number of residents. Questioning Danish Sovereignty “The real question is what right does Denmark have to assert control over Greenland? What is the basis of their territorial claim?” Miller questioned. Miller continued: “The US is the dominant force in NATO. For the US to secure the Arctic region to safeguard the alliance, it is logical that Greenland should be incorporated into the United States.” There was, he said “no requirement to even think or talk about” a military operation in Greenland, adding: “Nobody is going to fight the US militarily.” International Reactions His comments followed Trump said over the weekend, fresh from events in Venezuela, that the US desired the territory “very badly”. Denmark's leader, Mette Frederiksen, responded by saying that an attack by the US a NATO ally would mean the end of the military alliance and “post-Second World War security”. Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, issued a strong statement, calling on the US president to abandon his “fantasies about annexation” and accused the US of being “completely and utterly unacceptable”. Historical Context and Current Stance Miller’s comments were preceded by his wife, a conservative commentator, posted a digital image of Greenland under a US flag with the caption “SOON”. Asked about the social media post, he responded by stating: “It has been the formal position of the US government from the start of this presidency... Donald Trump has been explicit about that.” Greenland was under colonial rule until 1953, when it became part of the Danish realm. The US has had a military base there, critical to its national missile defense network. In recent years, there has been increasing sentiment for self-rule, especially following revelations about historical policies of Greenlandic people. But amid the spectre of acquisition talk, Greenland in March formed a new coalition government in a demonstration of solidarity, with its agreement stating: “We are the rightful owners of Greenland.”