A senior US official said on Sunday that American acquisition of Greenland is currently the only way to address the long-term security risks surrounding the ice-covered island, which is a territory of Denmark.
"We still believe that is the best way to meet NATO's defence needs with respect to Greenland," the official told reporters ahead of the NATO summit scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Turkey.
Nevertheless, the official noted that other options are still under consideration, though he did not elaborate on what those options might be.
The senior government official pointed to intensive maritime activity in the waters surrounding Greenland, and confirmed that US President Donald Trump is seeking a long-term solution that extends beyond his presidency.
"At this point in time, the only solution we have come up with to address that is for the United States to acquire Greenland," he added.