The United States has not acquired sovereign territory since 1917, when it purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million. Now Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are meeting with Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers at the White House to discuss Trump's demand for Greenland—a self-governing Danish territory whose 57,000 residents have declared they do not want American rule.
The stakes extend beyond the Arctic. Denmark is a founding NATO member that lost more soldiers per capita than any ally during the Afghanistan war. Trump has refused to rule out military force against Greenland, prompting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to warn that any attack would end NATO. European leaders have signed a joint statement declaring Greenland belongs to its people, while U.S. officials estimate acquisition could cost up to $700 billion.
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Key Indicators
$700B
Estimated acquisition cost
U.S. officials' high-end estimate for purchasing Greenland, more than half the annual Defense Department budget
85%
Greenlanders opposing U.S. rule
Share of Greenlandic population that does not want to become American, per 2025 polling
57,000
Greenland population
Residents of the world's largest island, which has more autonomy than any other Danish territory
DKK 42B
Denmark Arctic defense spending
Combined Arctic defense investments from 2025 agreements, roughly $6 billion
People Involved
Donald Trump
President of the United States (Actively pursuing Greenland acquisition)
J.D. Vance
Vice President of the United States (Hosting White House meeting with Danish officials)
Marco Rubio
U.S. Secretary of State (Directed to develop Greenland acquisition proposal)
Mette Frederiksen
Prime Minister of Denmark (Leading Danish resistance to acquisition)
Jens-Frederik Nielsen
Prime Minister of Greenland (Rejecting U.S. acquisition while pursuing gradual independence)
Lars Løkke Rasmussen
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (Leading White House delegation)
Vivian Motzfeldt
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Independence of Greenland (Representing Greenland in White House talks)
Organizations Involved
NO
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Military Alliance
Status: Facing unprecedented internal crisis
The alliance's collective defense principle—an attack on one is an attack on all—has never contemplated one member threatening to attack another.
DA
Danish Armed Forces
Military
Status: Increasing Arctic presence
Denmark has committed over $6 billion to Arctic defense since 2025, including new vessels, aircraft, and a specialized Arctic unit.
PI
Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base)
U.S. Military Installation
Status: Operational
The northernmost U.S. military installation, 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle, hosting missile warning and space surveillance missions.
Timeline
Congressional Delegation Arrives in Copenhagen
Diplomacy
Senator Chris Coons leads bipartisan delegation of nine lawmakers to Denmark, signaling congressional support for the alliance.
White House Hosts Danish and Greenlandic Foreign Ministers
Diplomacy
VP Vance and Secretary Rubio meet with Foreign Ministers Rasmussen and Motzfeldt. Denmark increases military presence around Greenland. U.S. estimates acquisition at up to $700 billion.
Greenland PM Declares: 'We Choose Denmark'
Statement
Prime Minister Nielsen and PM Frederiksen hold joint press conference. Nielsen states Greenland chooses Denmark, NATO, and the EU over the United States.
Trump: 'We're Going to Do Something' on Greenland
Statement
Trump states the U.S. will act on Greenland 'whether they like it or not,' escalating rhetoric ahead of diplomatic talks.
Nordic Foreign Ministers Issue Joint Statement
Diplomacy
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden declare commitment to Arctic security and sovereignty, implicitly rebuking U.S. threats.
Frederiksen Urges Trump to 'Stop the Threats'
Statement
Danish Prime Minister publicly calls on Trump to cease threatening a NATO ally, following U.S. military capture of Venezuelan leader Maduro.
Denmark commits DKK 27.4 billion to Arctic defense, including 16 F-35s, Arctic vessels, and surveillance systems for Greenland.
Greenland Elects New Pro-Independence Government
Election
Demokraatit wins plurality in general election. Jens-Frederik Nielsen becomes youngest prime minister, campaigning on gradual independence.
Donald Trump Jr. Visits Greenland
Visit
Trump's eldest son flies to Nuuk for a day trip, filming podcast content. Trump refuses to rule out military force to acquire Greenland.
President-Elect Trump Revives Greenland Push
Statement
Trump declares U.S. control of Greenland an 'absolute necessity' shortly after winning the 2024 election, intensifying his 2019 proposal.
Trump Cancels Denmark Visit
Diplomacy
Trump cancels planned state visit to Denmark after Prime Minister Frederiksen rejects Greenland sale, calling her response 'nasty.'
Trump Proposes Buying Greenland
Statement
Trump publicly proposes purchasing Greenland, comparing it to 'a large real estate deal.' Denmark calls the idea absurd.
Greenland Self-Government Act Takes Effect
Governance
Greenland gains expanded autonomy over police, courts, and most domestic affairs. The act includes a path to full independence via referendum.
Greenland Defense Agreement Signed
Treaty
Denmark and the U.S. sign the agreement allowing American military operations in Greenland under NATO framework, leading to construction of Thule Air Base.
Truman Offers $100 Million for Greenland
Diplomacy
President Harry Truman offers Denmark $100 million in gold for Greenland following WWII. Denmark rejects the offer.
Scenarios
1
Diplomatic Stalemate: Trump Rhetoric Continues, No Acquisition
Discussed by: European analysts, Chatham House, Atlantic Council commentators
Trump maintains aggressive rhetoric but takes no concrete action beyond diplomatic pressure. Denmark and Greenland continue rejecting any sale, while expanding Arctic defense cooperation. The crisis persists as background noise without resolution, damaging U.S.-European relations but not breaking NATO. This mirrors Trump's 2019 approach, where he abandoned the effort after Denmark's rebuff.
2
Negotiated Cooperation: Expanded U.S. Arctic Access Without Sovereignty Transfer
Discussed by: Danish Foreign Ministry, some U.S. defense analysts, Council on Foreign Relations
Denmark offers enhanced U.S. military access, joint Arctic operations, and mineral extraction rights in exchange for dropping sovereignty demands. Greenland receives direct economic benefits. Trump claims victory for 'protecting American interests' without formal acquisition. This outcome would require Trump to accept something short of his stated goal of full control.
3
Economic Coercion: U.S. Tariffs and Sanctions on Denmark
Discussed by: European security analysts, Foreign Affairs contributors, Al Jazeera
Trump imposes punitive tariffs or sanctions on Denmark to pressure concessions on Greenland. Europe retaliates with counter-measures. NATO cohesion fractures as the alliance divides over whether to support Denmark against the United States. European defense cooperation accelerates independently of American leadership.
4
NATO Collapse: U.S. Military Action Against Greenland
The U.S. attempts military seizure or occupation of Greenland. Denmark invokes Article 5, creating an impossible situation where NATO members must choose sides against each other. The alliance effectively dissolves. European nations accelerate independent defense capabilities. Russia and China gain strategic advantage from Western disunity. Analysts treat this as catastrophic but not impossible given Trump's explicit refusal to rule out force.
5
Greenland Accelerates Independence, Complicates All Scenarios
Discussed by: Arctic analysts, Greenlandic political observers, Council on Foreign Relations
Trump's pressure accelerates Greenland's independence movement. If Greenland becomes a sovereign nation, it would no longer be part of the Danish realm—but neither would it become American. An independent Greenland could negotiate its own security arrangements, potentially playing U.S., European, and even Chinese interests against each other. Recent polling shows 84% of Greenlanders want independence from Denmark.
Historical Context
Russia's Annexation of Crimea (2014)
February-March 2014
What Happened
Russian special forces occupied Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in February 2014. A disputed referendum followed in March, with Russian-organized authorities claiming 97% support for joining Russia. Moscow formally annexed the territory on March 18.
Outcome
Short Term
The G8 suspended Russia, the West imposed sanctions, and the UN General Assembly voted 100-11 to reject the annexation. Most nations refused to recognize Russia's territorial claim.
Long Term
The annexation preceded Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Analysts argue weak Western response in 2014 emboldened Putin's later aggression, ultimately killing hundreds of thousands.
Why It's Relevant Today
Trump's explicit refusal to rule out military force against Greenland—a NATO ally—evokes comparisons to Russian annexation logic. European leaders warn that U.S. violation of Danish sovereignty would have 'unprecedented' consequences for the international order that the U.S. itself built.
U.S. Purchase of the Virgin Islands (1917)
March 1917
What Happened
The United States purchased the Danish West Indies (St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix) from Denmark for $25 million in gold—the equivalent of roughly $600 million today. The U.S. sought the islands to protect the Panama Canal during World War I.
Outcome
Short Term
The islands became U.S. territory. Danish subjects received U.S. citizenship. The acquisition proceeded through treaty ratified by the Senate.
Long Term
This remains the last time the U.S. acquired sovereign territory through purchase. The residents had no vote in the transfer—a process now considered incompatible with self-determination principles.
Why It's Relevant Today
The Virgin Islands purchase is the direct precedent for U.S.-Danish territorial transactions—and the last time such a deal occurred. However, the 1917 transfer happened before modern international law established that peoples have the right to determine their own governance. Greenland's 57,000 residents have explicitly rejected American rule.
Alaska Purchase (1867)
March-October 1867
What Happened
Secretary of State William Seward negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million ($12 per square mile). Critics called it 'Seward's Folly.' The territory was more than twice the size of Texas.
Outcome
Short Term
Alaska became a U.S. territory with minimal infrastructure and no clear economic value. Many Americans viewed the purchase as wasteful.
Long Term
Alaska became a state in 1959. Its oil reserves proved enormously valuable. The purchase is now viewed as a strategic masterstroke that extended U.S. presence to the Arctic.
Why It's Relevant Today
Trump and his advisors explicitly cite Alaska as precedent for Greenland acquisition. However, Russia sold Alaska willingly to deny it to Britain; Denmark is not a willing seller. The constitutional process required Senate treaty ratification—a path that would require 67 votes Trump does not have, given bipartisan congressional opposition.
