WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland is a serious initiative driven by strategic national security objectives, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Speaking during an interview on Sirius XM's The Megyn Kelly Show, Rubio emphasized that the administration views Greenland as a critical asset amid increasing global competition in the Arctic.

“This is not a joke,” Rubio said.

“This is not about acquiring land for the sake of it.

This is in our national interest, and it needs to be solved.”

Trump’s interest in Greenland has been public since his re-election and includes considerations of economic and military leverage to negotiate with Denmark.

Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, has repeatedly declared through its Prime Minister Múte Egede that the island is not for sale and that its future should be determined by its citizens.

Rubio highlighted the island’s strategic importance, noting its potential to secure Arctic shipping routes and safeguard U.S. interests against global competitors like China and Russia.

“The Arctic is going to become critical for shipping lanes, and we need to be able to defend that,” Rubio explained.

When asked if the U.S. would acquire Greenland within the next four years, Rubio responded, “Obviously, that’s the president’s priority, and he has made that point clear.

We’re not in a position yet to discuss exactly how we’ll proceed tactically.

What I think you can rest assured of is that four years from now, our interest in the Arctic will be more secure.”

Greenland, which holds significant natural resources and strategic geographic positioning, is increasingly central to geopolitical competition.

The U.S. administration continues to assess its role in the region, as nations like China and Russia expand their presence and infrastructure development in the Arctic.