The White House confirmed Tuesday that President Donald Trump has been exploring various options, including potential military involvement, to acquire Greenland from Denmark. The discussions reflect what the White House described as a "national security priority" for the United States.

The statement from the White House followed a joint declaration from European leaders supporting Denmark's rejection of Trump's ambitions for the Arctic island. Over the weekend, Trump reiterated the U.S.'s perceived need for Greenland for security purposes, prompting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to caution that any U.S. aggression would jeopardize NATO.

"The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the US military is always an option at the Commander-in-Chief's disposal," the White House said in a statement.

Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, has been the subject of U.S. interest due to its strategic location and abundant natural resources. The island sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans and possesses significant deposits of minerals.

The notion of the U.S. acquiring Greenland is not new. President Harry Truman explored purchasing the island in 1946.

The current discussions are taking place against a backdrop of increasing geopolitical competition in the Arctic, with nations vying for influence and access to resources in the region. NATO, a transatlantic military alliance, requires member states to support each other in the event of external attacks. The implications of the U.S. potentially using military force against a fellow NATO member are unclear.