US military is 'always an option' for Trump to acquire Greenland, says White House in chilling threat

As global tensions continue to swirl in the wake of the US' capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, the White House has issued a chilling threat towards Greenland – another nation that Donald Trump has in his sights.

For months now, Trump has talked about the importance of the United States assuming control of Danish territory Greenland, as its position between Europe and North America makes it a critical site for the US ballistic missile defence system.

The country also boasts several mineral deposits that the US is keen to acquire in order to reduce Washington’s dependence on Chinese exports.

Yet while both Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly rejected any attempts to strong-arm the island nation into submitting to Trump’s demands, the White House has once again talked about utilizing any means necessary to get what it wants.

Karoline Leavitt confirmed that military options were being considered to control Greenland (Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Speaking on Tuesday (January 6), press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters: "President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region."

She then chillingly suggested that the US could potentially deploy the military to achieve its ambitious goal, as she continued: "The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. Military is always an option at the Commander in Chief’s disposal."

Up until recently, the notion of the US seeking to claim ownership of a completely autonomous and sovereign territory would have seemed foolish.

Yet, in the wake of Maduro’s capture in Venezuela, and Trump’s declaration that the US would temporarily assume control of the South American nation, concerns have understandably been rising among America’s allies that this cavalier attitude could be a step too far.

Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has rebuffed any of Trump's demands (Oscar Scott Carl / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking on social media, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen previously urged Trump to give up his ‘fantasies about annexation’ and accused the US of ‘completely and utterly unacceptable’ rhetoric.

"Threats, pressure and talk of annexation have no place between friends," said Nielsen.

"That is not how you speak to people who have shown responsibility, stability and loyalty time and again. Enough is enough. No more pressure. No more innuendo. No more fantasies about annexation."

Similarly, many other European nations have expressed their concerns, not least because if the US did decide to invade Greenland, it would trigger a response from NATO and potentially ignite a catastrophic global conflict that could very well become World War III.