Washington, D.C. — January 11, 2026 — U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly directed the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to prepare contingency plans for a potential invasion of Greenland, according to a bombshell report published by the British newspaper The Mail on Sunday on January 10, 2026.
The directive, which comes as Trump intensifies his long-standing push to acquire the vast Arctic territory from Denmark, has reportedly met strong internal resistance from senior U.S. military leaders. Sources cited in the report describe the Joint Chiefs of Staff as viewing any such operation as illegal and unlikely to gain congressional approval. One diplomatic source quoted generals as calling the plan “crazy and illegal,” with some suggesting efforts to redirect the president’s focus toward other global military priorities.
Trump’s interest in Greenland, first publicly raised during his initial term in 2019 as a potential “large real estate deal,” has resurfaced dramatically in his second administration. He has framed control of the island — the world’s largest by land area, though sparsely populated with around 57,000 residents — as a critical national security imperative. The president argues that U.S. ownership is essential to prevent Russia or China from gaining influence in the strategically vital Arctic region, which holds significant rare earth minerals, potential shipping routes due to climate change, and existing U.S. military facilities such as Pituffik Space Base.
In recent statements, Trump has escalated his language, telling reporters during a January 9 meeting with oil and gas executives that the U.S. would “do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not.” He warned that if a deal could not be reached “the easy way,” it would happen “the hard way,” adding that Denmark’s historical claim — dating back centuries — did not equate to true ownership.
The White House has confirmed that administration officials are actively discussing “a range of options” to pursue the goal, with military force described as “always an option” at the commander’s disposal. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has briefed congressional leaders that no invasion is imminent, emphasizing negotiations to purchase the territory from Denmark as the preferred path.
The report attributes Trump’s emboldened stance in part to the recent U.S. special operations mission that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which some insiders say has reinforced perceptions of swift, decisive action as effective foreign policy.
Strong Opposition from Denmark, Greenland, and European Allies
Greenlandic political leaders have responded with a unified rejection. In a joint statement issued shortly after Trump’s latest comments, representatives from five parties in the island’s parliament declared: “We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danish, we want to be Greenlanders.” They stressed that the future of Greenland must be determined by its people alone. Polls have consistently shown overwhelming opposition, with around 85% of Greenlanders rejecting U.S. control.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has been equally firm, warning that any U.S. military action against Greenland — as Danish sovereign territory — would effectively dismantle NATO, the transatlantic alliance. European leaders from countries including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain have issued a joint statement in support of Denmark, reaffirming that Greenland’s status is for its inhabitants to decide.
Diplomats have reportedly war-gamed various scenarios, ranging from outright escalation involving force or political coercion, to compromise arrangements that could expand U.S. military access while formally excluding Russian or Chinese involvement.
Domestic and International Implications
Within the U.S., bipartisan unease has emerged in Congress, with some lawmakers signaling potential efforts to legislate restrictions on such actions. Experts widely regard a full-scale military takeover of a NATO ally as highly improbable, given the risk of shattering the alliance and provoking severe international backlash.
The situation highlights deepening tensions in U.S.-European relations early in Trump’s second term, with Greenland serving as a flashpoint for broader debates over Arctic security, resource competition, and the future of NATO. As talks continue between U.S., Danish, and Greenlandic officials, the rhetoric remains heated, but no concrete military moves have been confirmed as of January 11, 2026.
This story continues to develop, with observers watching closely for any shift from provocative statements to actionable policy.
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