U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States must own Greenland to prevent Russia and China from taking control or expanding their influence over this strategic land.
President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday regarding the control of Greenland that countries must have ownership of territory to truly protect it, because you cannot defend a lease agreement. Therefore, he must protect Greenland.
Trump said the U.S. could proceed by either an "easy way" or a "hard way," aligning with previous White House positions acknowledging that the government is considering buying Greenland from Denmark, without ruling out the possibility of annexation by military force.
However, both the Danish government and Greenland have clearly stated that Greenland is not for sale and warned that using military force would mean the end of the transatlantic defense alliance.
Although Greenland is one of the least populated territories in the world, its location between North America and the Arctic region makes it critically important for early warning systems against missile attacks, as well as monitoring naval and military activities in the Arctic.
Trump repeatedly emphasized that Greenland is vital to U.S. national security, vaguely claiming without evidence that the land is full of Russian and Chinese ships.
Currently, the U.S. has more than 100 troops stationed at Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland, operating since World War II, and under an agreement with Denmark, the U.S. has the right to deploy military forces to Greenland as needed.
However, Trump considers lease or long-term agreements insufficient.
He also said, "I love the Chinese people. I love the Russian people. But I don’t want them as neighbors in Greenland. That will not happen," emphasizing that NATO must understand the U.S. position on this matter.
Denmark's NATO allies, including major European countries and Canada, issued statements supporting Denmark and Greenland, affirming that only Denmark and Greenland have the right to decide their own relations.
While agreeing that the U.S. and its allies must prioritize Arctic security, they stressed that actions should be taken jointly among allies and must adhere to the United Nations Charter, especially regarding sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-violation of borders.
Concerns over Greenland's future increased after Trump recently used military force in Venezuela to arrest President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday.
Trump had previously proposed purchasing Greenland in 2019 during his first presidential term but was explicitly rejected.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio is scheduled to discuss the matter with the Danish government next week.
In recent years, Greenland has attracted growing interest from global powers due to its valuable resources such as rare earth minerals, uranium, and iron ore.
Scientists also believe Greenland may have large, accessible deposits of oil and natural gas, made easier to reach due to ice melting caused by climate change.
.SourceBBC
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