White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller declared in a high-profile interview that Greenland should “be part of the United States” and asserted that no country would militarily oppose American control of the vast Arctic island, intensifying a geopolitical flashpoint over the territory’s future.

Miller’s remarks, tied to broader strategic interest by President Donald Trump in Greenland, revived a debate over U.S. ambitions toward the self-governing Danish territory and triggered sharp diplomatic pushback from European and Nordic leaders.

Miller affirmed that Washington sees Greenland as critical to national security, especially in the face of rising Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic, and he questioned Denmark’s authority over the island’s governance.

He stated that the United States has a legitimate claim and that “nobody’s going to fight the United States militarily” should it pursue control, signalling a strong posture from the administration’s policy leadership.

The comments echo Trump’s longstanding position that acquiring Greenland could strengthen U.S. strategic posture in the region.

Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, along with leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom, issued joint statements defending Greenland’s right to self-determination and territorial sovereignty, stressing that any decisions regarding its future rest solely with Denmark and Greenland’s people.

They reiterated that the Arctic island “belongs to its people” and underscored adherence to international law and the principles underpinning the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance.

Greenland’s own leadership also condemned the notion that it could be subsumed by the United States, denouncing Miller’s remarks as disrespectful and reaffirming their commitment to remain within the Danish realm.

The territory’s government stressed that it values cooperation with the United States and other allies on defence and security matters but rejected any attempt to question its autonomy or provoke unilateral actions.

Miller’s assertions have broadened debate about the future of Arctic geopolitics, with analysts noting that threats to Greenland’s sovereignty could strain transatlantic relations and unsettle long-standing defence arrangements.

At the same time, the Trump administration continues to advocate for enhanced U.S. engagement in the Arctic, citing Greenland’s strategic location and natural resources as central to its broader security agenda.