WASHINGTON/LONDON/BERLIN --  US President Donald Trump on Sunday once again claimed that the United States will acquire Denmark's Greenland "one way or the other."

Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said that with regard to Greenland, he was not considering leasing or short-term arrangements, but "acquiring" the territory.

"We're talking about acquiring, not leasing, not having it short term, we're talking about acquiring," said Trump, adding it's insufficient for the country to merely maintain military bases on the island.

"I'd love to make a deal with them. It's easier, but one way or the other, we're going to have Greenland," Trump asserted.

Asked if the US demand for Greenland will damage NATO and European allies, Trump said, "If it affects NATO and it affects NATO, but you know, they need us much more than we need them."

"I'm the one that saved NATO," Trump claimed, again questioning whether NATO allies would support the United States when it is needed.

"I just wonder whether or not, if we needed NATO, would they be there for us? I'm not sure they would," the president said.

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Trump also repeated his baseless allegations that Russian and Chinese warships and submarines were "all over the place" around Greenland, using the false claims to argue that the United States needs to own Greenland for national security reasons.

"If we don't do it, Russia or China will," Trump claimed, offering no evidence.

"I have seen the intelligence. There are no ships, no submarines," the Financial Times quoted one of two senior Nordic diplomats with access to NATO intelligence briefings as saying on Sunday.

The two diplomats told the newspaper that there was no evidence of Russian or Chinese ships or submarines operating around Greenland in recent years, directly contradicting Trump's allegations.

Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide also told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that there was "very little" Russian or Chinese activity near Greenland, reported US media outlet Politico.

UK not to rule out troop deployment 

British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander did not rule out the possibility of British troop deployment to Greenland when questioned Sunday about reports of potential British military deployment to the Arctic island, Sky News reported.

Alexander told Sky News that discussions about such deployment were "business-as-usual" coordination among NATO allies.

British officials have reportedly been holding discussions with French and German counterparts over a potential NATO military deployment in Greenland.

READ MORE: US state secretary says to meet Danish officials next week on Greenland

Since taking office in January 2025, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in gaining control of Greenland, to which British Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded by saying that the future of Greenland should be determined by Greenland and Denmark alone.

'Greenland's future a matter for Denmark, Greenland'

German Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said on Sunday that the future of Greenland is a matter solely for Denmark and Greenland to decide.

Speaking ahead of his departure for meetings in the United States, Klingbeil stressed that international legal principles apply to everyone, including the United States, according to the website of Tagesschau, the flagship news program of German public broadcaster ARD.

Since taking office again in January 2025, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in gaining control of Greenland, saying that he would not rule out using "military or economic coercion" to achieve that goal.

Greenland, a former Danish colony, became an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1953. It was granted home rule in 1979, expanding its autonomy, though Denmark retains authority over foreign affairs and defense.  

'Dumbest war' over Greenland

Rasmus Jarlov, chair of the Danish Defence Committee, said on Sunday that any military confrontation over Greenland would be "the dumbest war in history."

Speaking in an interview with Sky News, Jarlov said US President Donald Trump's ambition to seize Greenland represents "a contender for the most illegitimate land claim in modern history."

Jarlov also noted that neither Russia nor China has any activities in Greenland. "They don't have consulates. They don't have any mining activities. They don't own anything. They're simply not there."

Jarlov further stressed that "the Greenlanders have made it very, very, very clear that they do not want to become Americans and that they are not for sale."