Richard Milne in Oslo and Jacob Judah in London
President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted in recent weeks that the US must “have” Greenland.
But how could Washington go about taking more or total control of the vast Arctic island that is part of the kingdom of Denmark?
Current and former US and Danish officials say there are a range of options, some seemingly rejected by Trump and others under active consideration. Copenhagen has suggested the US could increase its military presence in Greenland after years of decline.
Other options being discussed in Washington include a Compact of Free Association (COFA) akin to those the US has with three Pacific island states. At the extreme end, the island could become US territory, potentially by force.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio on Wednesday said he would meet his Danish and Greenlandic counterparts next week.
“There’s a range of possibilities on the table that people are at work discussing,” said Tom Dans, part of the Trump administration as head of the US Arctic Research Commission.
He noted that his state of Texas had become independent from Mexico before being annexed by the US in the 19th century.
