Is this Trump's step towards taking over Greenland?

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The Pentagon is preparing to shift military oversight of Greenland from US European Command to US Northern Command, a move that could draw the Arctic island closer into America's strategic orbit, according to a report read more
The Pentagon is preparing to shift military oversight of Greenland from US European Command to US Northern Command, a move that could draw the Arctic island closer into America's strategic orbit as President Donald Trump continues to show interest in taking control over the Arctic landmass.
According to a Politico report, the shift in oversight, which could come as soon as this week, could also help the US broaden its Golden Dome missile shield by providing more radars for coverage.
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Under the plan, Greenland would shift to Northern Command, which is responsible for overseeing the security of North America, added the report, citing a DOD official and two people familiar with the planning.
The switch is the clearest step yet in the Trump administration's effort to gain control over Greenland, an autonomous territory tied to Denmark.
Trump first mentioned buying Greenland during his first term, but has brought it up more often since winning re-election last November. His renewed interest has worried Greenland's 58,000 residents and frustrated the Danish government, which says the island is not for sale.
Moving Greenland under US Northern Command is likely to draw attention in Denmark and among Nato allies, many of whom are uneasy about Trump's ongoing push to take over the island and his refusal to rule out military options.
Meanwhile, Denmark and the Faroe Islands will stay under European Command, creating a symbolic and practical split from Greenland.
'From the perspective of geography, the move makes some sense,' Politico quoted one of the people familiar with the matter as saying.
'From a political perspective, however, this clearly is going to worry Europe,' the official added.
According to the Politico report, the shift in Greenland's oversight comes as part of the Pentagon's broader review of the Unified Command Plan, which defines the responsibilities of the military's six geographic commands.
While the Greenland move doesn't change leadership structures, other proposals — like merging Northern and Southern Commands or moving Africa Command back under European Command — could significantly affect top military roles and the global distribution of US forces.
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For months, the Trump administration has emphasised Greenland's strategic value, citing its North Atlantic location as key for missile defence and tracking Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic.
The change could pave the way for more Golden Dome radar systems on the island, further integrating Greenland into US and Canadian defence strategies.
US Northern Command is primarily tasked with defending the homeland, overseeing missions like border security, air and missile defense, and military cooperation with Canada and Mexico.
Shifting Greenland under Northern Command would effectively separate it from Denmark in US strategic planning, elevating the island's importance in Pentagon and White House discussions, reported Politico.
According to the report, citing one source familiar with the move, Denmark has not yet been formally briefed about the move.
The US has maintained a military presence in Greenland for decades. In March, Vice President JD Vance and then–national security adviser Mike Waltz visited Pituffik Space Base — home to the Pentagon's northernmost deepwater port and a key site for monitoring Russia and China.
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During the visit, Vance urged Greenland to 'cut a dea' with the US, saying, 'I think that you'd be a lot better coming under the United States security umbrella than you have been under Denmark's.'
Back in January, Denmark pledged an additional $2 billion toward Greenland's defence in part to ease US concerns.
Still, Nato and European leaders remain wary of Trump's growing interest in the island.
Trump's comments on the importance of the Arctic have caught the attention of Nato leaders.
The alliance's secretary general, Mark Rutte, said last week that 'for Nato, we're getting more involved' in Arctic security issues. He added that Trump calling attention to Russian and Chinese moves in the region marked a positive development.
In an interview with NBC last month, Trump said he would not rule out taking Greenland by military force.
'I don't say I'm going to do it, but I don't rule out anything,' he was quoted as saying.
'We need Greenland very badly,' he added.
With inputs from agencies