🔗 Share this article Stephen Miller Escalates Assertions to Take Over the Arctic Territory A key figure from Donald Trump's top aides has ramped up the pressure on the Danish government by challenging Copenhagen’s claim to the vast Arctic island. Military Intervention Dismissed The president’s deputy chief of staff, stated emphatically the use of armed force would not be necessary to take over the northern landmass because “nobody is going to fight the United States in combat over the fate of Greenland”. “What do you mean military action against Greenland? Greenland has 30,000 inhabitants people,” Miller inaccurately claimed, despite the actual figure being closer to 57,000. Miller further proposed that Copenhagen lacks a legitimate right to the region, which is a former Danish colony and continues as a constituent country of the Danish kingdom. Growing Tensions Miller’s comments come amid increasing friction between the two NATO allies after the American leader's repeated interest to purchase Greenland. A key parliamentary committee in Denmark has convened an emergency session to discuss the bilateral ties with the United States. Speaking to media, Miller told CNN that control over Greenland could be achieved without military intervention due to its limited number of residents. Questioning Danish Sovereignty “The core issue is on what grounds does Denmark have to exercise sovereignty over Greenland? What is the basis of their ownership claim?” Miller questioned. He added: “The US is the power of NATO. For the US to secure the Arctic region to safeguard the alliance, it is logical that Greenland should be part of the US.” There was, he said “no need to even consider or discuss” a military operation in Greenland, adding: “No country would wage war against the US militarily.” International Reactions These statements followed Trump remarked recently, following other foreign policy actions, that the US desired the territory “urgently”. The Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, reacted by warning that an attack by the US a NATO ally would mean the end of the military alliance and “post-Second World War security”. The island's own leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, issued a strong statement, calling on the US president to abandon his “notions of acquisition” and accused the US of being “completely and utterly unacceptable”. Background and Present Position Miller’s comments were preceded by his wife, podcaster Katie Miller, posted a digital image of Greenland under a US flag with the tag “IN THE NEAR FUTURE”. Asked about the social media post, he responded by stating: “This has represented the official stance of the US government since the beginning of this administration... Donald Trump has been explicit about that.” Greenland was under colonial rule until 1953, when it became part of the kingdom of Denmark. The US maintains a strategic installation there, important for its ballistic missile early warning system. Recently, there has been growing support for Greenlandic independence, especially following disclosures about Denmark’s treatment of the local population. But amid the prospect of Trump’s threat, Greenland in March established a new coalition government in a demonstration of solidarity, with its agreement stating: “Greenland belongs to us.”