'I speak to Donald Trump regularly and know the truth about Greenland invasion'

Amid growing international concern over Donald Trump’s statements about Greenland, retired US Army General Jack Keane who advises Trump on military matters claims the president’s threats are more about intimidation than actual military action.

Keane, 82, who served as vice-chief of staff of the US Army, told The Times podcast The General and the Journalist:

"It’s the way the president and his team do business. These threats are intended to pressure Greenland and Denmark into a security deal. He’s never seriously considered taking Greenland by force."

Despite White House statements suggesting Trump has explored “a range of options,” including military action to acquire the island, Keane emphasizes that such scenarios are unrealistic. He has been an informal adviser to Trump, speaking on defense matters several times a week, and declined the opportunity to become defense secretary twice.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to visit Denmark to discuss possible arrangements, including the controversial idea of buying Greenland an island spanning 836,330 square miles and located roughly 2,000 miles from the US mainland.

The proposal, however, comes with an undercurrent of intimidation. Trump has reportedly suggested that he would use “all means necessary” to secure the mineral-rich island, including a military presence. This aggressive posture has drawn criticism from senior Republicans like Mitch McConnell, who called such tactics “unseemly and counterproductive.”

Keane also points out that any invasion would be unprecedented for an American president and likely illegal under US law. Critics note, however, that Trump has previously acted unilaterally, as seen in military strikes in Venezuela without formal Congressional approval, highlighting concerns about his approach to international norms.

Conservative voices, including commentator Ben Shapiro, have argued that international law is no longer relevant, advocating instead for a “law of the jungle” approach. Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller echoed this sentiment, telling CNN:

"We live in a world governed by strength, force, and power. I don’t expect anyone to resist the US militarily over Greenland."

Yet global reactions have been far from supportive. NATO leaders, including Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, warned that any military aggression by the US against Greenland would destabilize the alliance. Frederiksen stated, “If the US attacks a NATO ally, everything would stop including NATO itself and post-World War II security arrangements.”

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer added that the fate of Greenland rests solely with Denmark and Greenland itself: “Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark must decide the future of Greenland.”

Greenland, home to about 57,000 people, has been largely autonomous since 1979, though Denmark still manages its defense and foreign policy. The US already maintains a presence on the island through the Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base), where around 200 troops are stationed.

In short, while Trump’s Greenland rhetoric has sparked alarm, insiders like Jack Keane suggest the president’s ambitions are more about negotiating leverage than an actual invasion. Still, the controversy has raised serious questions about US foreign policy, international law, and NATO’s future.