Trump has expressed interest in taking control of Greenland since 2019, as the island’s strategic importance has grown considerably as a result of ice melting, creating new shipping routes. It is also home to one of the world’s largest rare earth metal layers.

Officials of the European Union and its member countries are sharply criticizing President-elect Donald Trump’s refusal to rule out the use of military force to take control of Greenland. Trump told reporters at a Tuesday press conference that he “can’t assure” the public that he would not resort to using the military to bring the

European leaders this week expressed confusion and pushed back against President-elect Donald Trump's refusal to rule out using military force to take over Greenland.