Name: U.S. takeover of Greenland would be devastating to NATO relations
Uploaded: 2026-01-07T01:02:02.591Z
Duration: 4 min 2 s
Description: European leaders are pushing back after White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said Greenland should be part of the United States. The semi-autonomous island has been the territory of Denmark, a NATO nation, for 300 years.

European leaders are pushing back after White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said Greenland should be part of the United States. The semi-autonomous island has been the territory of Denmark, a NATO nation, for 300 years.

Washington

European leaders have strongly opposed recent statements from the U.S. administration suggesting that Greenland should become part of the United States. The White House confirmed it is considering various options to acquire the territory, including the use of force, prompting warnings from Denmark, Greenland, and other European nations that such actions would be viewed as an attack on a NATO ally.

Former State Department official Heather Conley emphasized that the U.S. already maintains a strong military and economic presence in Greenland through agreements with Denmark, making acquisition unnecessary. She noted that any attempt to take Greenland could endanger the 80-year-old NATO alliance, as Denmark and Greenland now see the U.S. as the aggressor and are preparing for possible actions.

U.S. takeover of Greenland would be "devastating" to NATO relations

European leaders are pushing back against the U.S. after White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said Greenland should be part of the United States. The semi-autonomous island has been the territory of Denmark and NATO nation for 300 years. Following U.S. action in Venezuela, President Trump and members of his administration have renewed calls for the U.S. to control Greenland for defense and security needs. Today, the White House confirmed it is discussing options to acquire Greenland, including taking it by force. The leaders of Greenland and Denmark and other European nations have soundly rejected the Trump administration's stance, warning that a U.S. takeover would amount to an attack on NATO. Joining me now to discuss is Heather Conley. She is a former State Department official and currently a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Thank you so much for talking about this with us. Remind us why the U.S. wants Greenland. Well, I think President Trump, as a real estate professional, must be very interested and fascinated with acquiring the world's largest island. The United States doesn't need to acquire Greenland. We have a strong relationship with a great ally, the Kingdom of Denmark, who has opened their doors to allow us, with the Greenlandic government, to increase our military posture in Greenland, to increase our economic position in Greenland. But those have all been pushed aside for this very focused effort on so-called buying or acquiring Greenland. And the Greenlandic government and the Danish government have made very clear this is not for sale and it is for the 57,000 Greenlanders to decide their future. And they've been clear they do not want to be part of the United States. What would taking Greenland mean for our relationship with NATO? Well, it would be absolutely devastating. And this is why you're now seeing European leaders who, quite frankly, whether it was through the U.S. military operation to seize President Maduro, they've been quite quiet on this front because they are so focused on maintaining a strong American security presence in Europe, particularly against an aggressive Russia and continuing American support for Ukraine. But on this issue, they understand this is the United States attacking another NATO European ally with saying that all options are on the table, meaning economic coercion, potentially military strikes, that this would end the 80-year-old alliance as we know it. So they've been very, very forthcoming. Again, all of this is so unnecessary. The United States has a defense agreement with the government of Denmark, we have a base on Greenland that provides that early warning radar against a potential missile threat against North America. We don't have to acquire it. We have a strong ally. But our ally, Denmark and Greenland, now believe that we are the aggressor and are preparing for potential options of what the United States will do. I simply don't know what it looks like in coming days, but this is just completely unnecessary. So if it's not about security, is it about resources? Greenland has reserves of oil, natural gas, and mineral resources. Well, certainly, yes, Greenland has enormous critical mineral wealth. But again, U.S. companies could be investing in there right now, and we just don't see much evidence of that. There were, you know, certainly believed oil and gas resources off the coast of Greenland, but early exploration of that wasn't very promising. Again, if the United States wants to deepen its military and its economic relationship with Greenland, it can do so today. It does not need to acquire it. It just needs to work closely with its ally. Heather Conley, thank you.

U.S. forces have boarded a Venezuela-linked sanctioned oil tanker in the North Atlantic after pursuing it for weeks. The U.S. military also announced the seizure of a sanctioned tanker ship in the Caribbean Sea, the second vessel taken by American forces on Wednesday.

Venezuela Strikes

U.S. seizes two more sanctioned oil tankers with links to Venezuela

A woman was fatally shot by an ICE officer Wednesday morning in Minneapolis, the Department of Homeland Security says. CBS News' Nicole Sganga reports from the scene.

Minneapolis

Protesters gather after ICE shoots and kills woman in Minneapolis

The U.S. seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker that was being shadowed by a Russian submarine on Wednesday (Jan. 7), after a more than two-week-long pursuit across the Atlantic as part of a U.S. "blockade" of Venezuelan oil exports.

U.S. seizes Venezuela-linked oil tanker after weeks-long pursuit

Nick Reiner, the son of Rob and Michele Reiner, is set to be arraigned in the killing of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. It comes as details emerge about his time in custody and how his mental health history could play a role in his case.

Los Angeles

Nick Reiner due in court on murder charges

Flights across France and Belgium and Eurostar train services have been severely disrupted by the winter weather.

Paris

Eurostar trains and hundreds of flights cancelled amid heavy snowfall

President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday urged security forces to distinguish between what he called rioters and protesters, urging them not to target peaceful demonstrators.

Tehran

Iran's President urges security forces not to target protesters

In Iran, protests that broke out on December 28th over the soaring cost of living look set to continue. Security forces fired tear gas at demonstrators in Tehran's Grand Bazaar on January 6: without giving numbers, Iran's IRNA news agency said 'some' people were arrested.

Death toll rises as Iran's security forces clash with protesters

Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are reacting to the Trump administration's comments on a potential Greenland takeover from Denmark.

Nuuk

European leaders blast Trump over Greenland takeover discussions

Donald Trump says Venezuela will hand over as much as 50 million barrels of oil and he will control the profits.

Trump says Venezuela will turn over 30-50 million barrels of oil

Britain and France have said they could send troops to Ukraine if a ceasefire is agreed. The pledge came at a Paris meeting of 30 nations, including the US, on security guarantees demanded by Kyiv before any peace deal.

London

Ukraine Invasion

UK, France ready to deploy troops in Ukraine after ceasefire

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he would “take up arms” in the face of threats issued by US President Donald Trump.

Bogotá

Colombia vows to defend its sovereignty amid Trump’s military threats

Israeli forces storm Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank soon after students begin a sit-in in solidarity with jailed Palestinians.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israeli school assault wounds dozens of Palestinians in West Bank raid

The White House says U.S. President Donald Trump and his team are considering a range of options in efforts to acquire Greenland as the ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro continues to reverberate in the Western Hemisphere.

Trump sees acquiring Greenland as a national security priority

The United States for the first time backed a broad coalition of Ukraine's allies in vowing to provide security guarantees that leaders said would include binding commitments to support the country if it is attacked by Russia again.

U.S. backs security guarantees for Ukraine at summit of Kyiv's allies

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep concern over recent U.S. military action in Venezuela, calling for the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

Soweto

Ramaphosa urges UN action after U.S. capture of Maduro

At least 25 people have been killed in Iran during the first nine days of protests that started in the bazaar of Tehran over the plunging value of the currency and soaring inflation, according to rights groups. This video contains graphic images.

Rights groups say at least 25 dead in Iran protests

The administration of President Donald Trump is planning to meet with executives from U.S. oil companies later this week to discuss boosting Venezuelan oil production after U.S. forces ousted its leader Nicolas Maduro, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Trump administration sets meetings with oil firms on Venezuela: source

Uncertainty in Venezuela has crossed into neighboring Colombia, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Colombian President Gustavo Petro could face U.S. action following the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

Tension rises in Colombia after Maduro’s capture

Nicolas Maduro appeared in a US courtroom on January 5, 2026. He pleaded "Not Guilty" to drug trafficking and other charges, insisting he is still Venezuela's president. Maduro's kidnapping is being justified by the Trump administration as a "surgical law enforcement operation", but what proof is the case resting on?

New York

Maduro pleads 'not guilty' in U.S. drug trafficking case

Local authorities in Crans-Montana admitted failing to conduct fire and safety inspections at Le Constellation bar, where a fire killed 40 and injured 116 during New Year celebrations.

Crans-Montana

Swiss Alps bar not inspected for five years prior to deadly fire

Twelve Israeli military vehicles have entered the Quneitra countryside in southern Syria. Several villages there have been the target of repeated Israeli raids in recent months. Tuesday's incursions come as discussions between an Israeli and Syrian delegation are expected to continue in Paris - mediated and coordinated by the U.S.

Beit Jinn

Israeli army vehicles enter southern Syria ahead of Paris talks

Following the largest anti-corruption investigation of his presidency, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has launched a significant shake-up of the government and his office, with a series of dismissals and appointments in top political and security roles.

Kyiv

Ukraine's security service chief resigns amid Zelenskyy's reshuffle

The capture of Nicolás Maduro is prompting strong reaction from Venezuelans in the United States, and those who fled across the border into Colombia. Lilia Luciano has more on the two women vying to lead the country. Then, Cristian Benavides reports on opposing viewpoints on U.S. intervention.

Caracas

Two women vying to run Venezuela amid opposing viewpoints

Police and the Secret Service are investigating a break-in at Vice President JD Vance's Ohio home. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul has more.

Cincinnati

Vice President JD Vance's Ohio home broken into

Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty Monday to federal drug trafficking and weapons charges, days after they were captured by U.S. military forces in a stunning overnight operation and brought to New York City for prosecution.

Manhattan

Maduro, wife plead not guilty to charges in New York

A Paris court on Monday (January 5) found 10 people guilty of the cyber-harassment of France's first lady, Brigitte Macron, for spreading false claims that she is a transgender woman who was born male.

Ten convicted for cyber-bullying France's Brigitte Macron

Nicolás Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, was officially sworn in as Venezuela's acting president. President Donald Trump warned he could go after her if she doesn't comply with U.S. demands, including access to the country's oil supply.

Trump says U.S. "in charge" of Venezuela

A Paris ​court on Monday found ten people guilty ⁠of the cyber-harassment of France's first lady, Brigitte Macron, for spreading false claims she is a transgender ​woman who was born a man. The court convicted all defendants to sentences ranging from a cyberbullying awareness training to 8-month suspended prison sentences.

Ten people found guilty of cyberbullying Brigitte Macron

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is set to appear in a U.S. court on Monday (January 5) on drug charges after his controversial capture by American forces. President Donald Trump says he could order another strike if Venezuela’s interim government doesn’t cooperate.

Trump warns of second strike as Maduro faces U.S. drug charges

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is being housed at Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, after he was captured by U.S. forces and flown to New York to face federal drug trafficking and weapons charges.

Breakdown