Bessent Says ‘Fight For The Arctic Is Real,’ Greenland ‘Essential’ To National Security

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that acquiring Greenland is “essential” to U.S. national security and that an impending “fight for the arctic” is real.

During an appearance Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” host Kristen Welker asked Bessent if President Trump was simply using Greenland as a negotiating tactic or if he is truly intent on “annexing” the territory.

“President Trump strongly believes that we cannot outsource our security because … let me tell you what will happen. And it might not be next year, might not be in five years, but down the road, this fight for the Arctic is real,” Bessent began.

The secretary noted that if there were an attack on Greenland, the U.S. would be dragged in anyway due to “NATO guarantees.”

“Make it part of the United States, and there will not be a conflict,” he said. “Because the United States right now, we are the hottest country in the world; we are the strongest country in the world. Europeans project weakness; U.S. projects strength.”

After Welker noted that Denmark says “Greenland is not for sale,” Bessent responded that “for over a century, American presidents have wanted to acquire Greenland, and what we can see is that Greenland is essential to the U.S. national security.”

“We’re building the Golden Dome, the missile system. President Trump is looking — is being strategic. He’s looking beyond this year. He’s looking beyond next year to what could happen for a battle in the Arctic,” Bessent added. “We are not going to outsource our national security. We are not going to outsource our hemispheric security to other countries.”

???? JUST IN: Sec. Scott Bessent says the weak Europeans MUST hand over Greenland to President Trump

“The fight for the arctic IS REAL! [Make] it part of the US, and there won’t be conflict!”

“Europe projects WEAKNESS. The US projects STRENGTH!” ????????????pic.twitter.com/ObLneRRJTI

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 18, 2026

The secretary then reminded Welker that during Trump’s first term, he warned Europe against building the second Nord Stream pipeline and continuing to rely on Russian oil, and “guess what is funding Russia’s efforts against Ukraine? European purchases of Russian oil.”

President trump has been continuing to ratchet up the pressure on Europe in his pursuit of Greenland.

On Saturday, he vowed to implement 10% tariffs on eight European nations until Denmark allows a sale, which Trump said is vital for the sake of “world peace.”

In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump said, starting February 1, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland will be charged a 10% tariff “on any and all goods sent to the United States of America.”

The tariff, he said, will spike to 25% by June 1, and will remain in place until “a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.”

Amanda Prestigiacomo contributed to this piece.