United States President Donald Trump has renewed his controversial push for Washington to take control of Greenland, declaring that the mineral-rich Danish territory would be acquired by the US “one way or the other.”
Trump argued that American control of Greenland was vital to US national security, citing growing Russian and Chinese military activities in the Arctic region.
“If we don’t take Greenland, Russia or China will, and I’m not letting that happen,” Trump told reporters on Sunday aboard Air Force One, despite neither Moscow nor Beijing laying claim to the vast Arctic island.
He said he was open to striking a deal with the self-governing Danish territory but insisted that US acquisition was inevitable. “We’re going to have Greenland, one way or the other,” he said.
Trump’s comments have drawn sharp reactions from Denmark and other European allies, who expressed alarm at the renewed threats over the strategically located island, which lies between North America and the Arctic. The United States has maintained a military base in Greenland since World War II.
Greenland, a former Danish colony until 1953, was granted home rule in 1979 and has since pursued greater autonomy, with discussions ongoing about eventually loosening its ties with Denmark. However, most of the island’s population and political parties opposed US control, insisting that Greenlanders alone must determine their future, a stance Trump has repeatedly dismissed.
“Greenland should make the deal, because Greenland does not want to see Russia or China take over,” Trump said, while deriding the territory’s defense capabilities.
“You know what their defense is? Two dog sleds,” he remarked, contrasting this with what he described as Russia and China having “destroyers and submarines all over the place.”
Denmark’s Prime Minister warned last week that any attempt by the United States to seize Greenland by force would shatter eight decades of transatlantic security cooperation. Trump brushed aside the warning, saying: “If it affects NATO, it affects NATO. But you know, they need us much more than we need them.” AFP
