US President Donald Trump has instructed his special forces leaders to devise a plan for invading Greenland, as reported by The Daily Mail, although senior military officials have reportedly opposed the idea.
The newspaper cited sources stating that Trump requested the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to create the invasion strategy. However, the Joint Chiefs of Staff are said to have resisted, contending that such an action would be illegal and would lack Congressional support.
The report mentions that senior military personnel have tried to steer the President toward less contentious options, such as intercepting Russian “ghost” ships—vessels allegedly used by Moscow to escape Western sanctions—or conducting strikes on Iran.
According to the report, the Greenland initiative has been spearheaded by political adviser Stephen Miller and emerged following what sources described as a successful operation to apprehend Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The goal, sources suggest, is to take control of the island before Russia or China can act.
British diplomats quoted by the Daily Mail noted that Trump is also driven by a desire to divert American voters’ attention from the US economy’s performance in light of the upcoming mid-term elections, after which Republicans could risk losing Congress to the Democrats.
This report follows Trump’s recent reiteration of his threat to acquire the territory. During a White House meeting with oil and gas executives on January 9, the President emphasized that the resource-rich island is essential for US national security and hinted that if a diplomatic deal cannot be made, the US might have to take action “the hard way.”
Trump asserted that the waters surrounding the world’s largest island are currently filled with Russian and Chinese vessels, using this claim to support the argument for an urgent change in sovereignty.
“If we don’t take action, Russia or China will seize Greenland,” he stated to the executives. “And we cannot allow Russia or China to be our neighbor.”
‘Shoot first’ rule cited by Defence Ministry
Earlier, Denmark instructed its military to respond immediately to any foreign intrusion into Greenland, including the use of force without waiting for orders, in light of renewed threats from US President Donald Trump regarding the annexation of the Arctic territory, as reported by Danish media.
The ministry informed Danish daily Berlingske that in case of an attack, forces must act “without waiting for or seeking orders, even if the commanders in question are unaware of a declaration of war or state of war.”
This clarification comes amid President Trump’s escalating rhetoric, as he has consistently voiced his desire to acquire Greenland.
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, but the Trump administration has increasingly questioned Copenhagen’s capability to secure the island. Vice President JD Vance recently accused Denmark of inadequately protecting the strategically important landmass, framing the discussion in terms of missile defense and the “civilizational” significance of the Arctic.
