Ex-Trump Adviser Proposes U.S. Acquisition of Greenland if Denmark Fails Defense

Former national security adviser Robert O’Brien reignited a controversial discussion on Sunday by suggesting that the United States should purchase Greenland from Denmark if it cannot adequately defend the self-governing territory.

Speaking on Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures, O’Brien called Greenland a strategic asset that will become increasingly vital as the Arctic emerges as a critical global battleground due to climate change.

O’Brien described Greenland as a “highway from the Arctic all the way to North America,” emphasizing the region's growing importance as warming temperatures open new shipping routes, potentially reducing reliance on the Panama Canal. “The Arctic is going to be the critical battleground of the future,” he stated.

The Arctic region holds significant geopolitical importance as the U.S. seeks to counter Russian and Chinese influence. Both nations have been expanding their presence in the Arctic, which O’Brien argued raises security concerns for the United States.

“The Russians and Chinese are all over the Arctic,” he said, noting that Denmark’s ownership of Greenland places it at the forefront of this geopolitical tension.

O’Brien reiterated comments from President-elect Donald Trump, asserting that the U.S. should not defend Greenland “for free.” According to O’Brien, Trump’s position is clear: “If you don’t defend Greenland, we will buy it and defend it ourselves.

But we’re not going to defend it for free while letting you neglect Greenland’s development and its valuable natural resources.”

He compared Denmark’s situation to that of the Baltic states and Poland, suggesting that, due to Greenland’s vast territory, Denmark is on the “front lines” of a broader strategic struggle against Russia and China. “They’ve got to defend Greenland,” O’Brien said. “And if they can’t, we will—but we’re not going to do it for free.”

O’Brien proposed an alternative: Denmark could sell Greenland to the U.S., allowing the territory to integrate into Alaska. “The native people in Greenland are very closely related to the people of Alaska,” he remarked. “We will make it a part of Alaska.”

The idea of purchasing Greenland is not new and was first floated by Trump in 2019, sparking a mix of intrigue and backlash.

Last week, Trump further emphasized the strategic importance of the territory in a Truth Social post announcing his pick for ambassador to Denmark, declaring that U.S. ownership of Greenland “is an absolute necessity.”

Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Eged firmly rejected Trump’s remarks, stating that Greenland “will never be for sale.” In response, Denmark announced a new security package to bolster the defense of its Arctic territory, signaling its commitment to retaining sovereignty over Greenland.

While the concept of buying Greenland might seem far-fetched, O’Brien’s comments highlight the strategic significance of the Arctic and the increasing geopolitical competition in the region.

The U.S., Denmark, and other nations face the challenge of balancing national security interests, indigenous rights, and environmental concerns in a rapidly changing Arctic landscape.