Donald Trump wants to take Greenland - and the White House has confirmed that all options are on the table, including the use of force.
While a military operation is just one of a range of economic and political options being considered, since it would be an attack by one NATO member on another, such a move would represent a nightmare scenario for the NATO alliance, and likely an existential one.
Trump has repeatedly said that Greenland is vital to US national security, claiming without evidence that it is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.
With the expertise of US, British and Danish experts, we consider the various options the president may be looking at and the possible justification for each one.
Military Action
Defence analysts say that a lightning operation to take Greenland could be done relatively easily, but the fallout would be monumental.
While geographically massive, Greenland's population is only around 58,000, about a third of which is concentrated in Nuuk, the capital...
Its vast size, small population and lack of military would make it a ripe target for the US, which already has more than 100 military personnel permanently stationed...
In the US, however, several former officials and defence analysts said a military operation is extremely unlikely, given its far-reaching implications for US-European alliances. That would clearly be against all international law, said Mick Mulroy, a former Marine...
Buying Greenland
The US has deep pockets, but Greenland is not for sale according to both Nuuk and Copenhagen...
While Trump could theoretically try to strike a deal unilaterally without involving Greenland or Congress, experts believe that is extremely unlikely...
A campaign to win over Greenlanders
Opinion polls suggest a majority of Greenlanders want independence from Denmark....
Imran Bayouni, a geostrategy expert with the Atlantic Council, stated that an influence campaign is much more likely than any military action...
