John Bolton tells Donald Trump ‘there are ways to get to Greenland’ as he reveals long term ambition to take territory

Mr Bolton suggested alternative approaches exist, adding: "What Trump is doing is taking something that's actually easy and making it hard."

The Arctic region has witnessed mounting tensions as climate change transforms the geopolitical landscape. Melting ice is opening new maritime routes and intensifying competition among major powers for access to the area's resources.

Mr Bolton highlighted this shifting dynamic, stating: "What's happening in the Arctic as the ice melts is Russia and China are becoming much more aggressive."

Moscow has been rebuilding Soviet-era military infrastructure in the polar region and establishing new bases since 2014. President Putin warned last year that Russia would bolster its armed forces in response to NATO activities in the Arctic.

Beijing declared itself a "near-Arctic state" in 2018, announcing plans for a "Polar Silk Road" as part of its global Belt and Road Initiative.

Seven European leaders issued a joint statement on Tuesday firmly rejecting Washington's territorial ambitions. The signatories—from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Denmark—declared that "Greenland belongs to its people" and that decisions regarding the territory rest solely with Copenhagen and Nuuk.

The statement affirmed the allies' commitment to defending Greenland's "territorial integrity" and the "inviolability of borders."

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen delivered a stark warning that any military aggression against a NATO member would effectively terminate the alliance that has underpinned Western security since the Second World War.

The unified European response followed White House comments that deploying American forces remained "always an option."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly informed lawmakers during a classified briefing that the administration intends to pursue a purchase of Greenland rather than resort to military intervention.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and his Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt have sought a meeting with Rubio, though previous requests proved unsuccessful.

Thomas Crosbie, associate professor of military operations at the Royal Danish Defence College, argued that American control would yield no strategic benefit.

"The United States will gain no advantage if its flag is flying in Nuuk versus the Greenlandic flag," he told the Associated Press, noting Washington already enjoys all desired security access through its alliance with Denmark.