President Donald Trump said the United States must “own” Greenland to prevent Russia and China from doing so.
“Countries have to have ownership and you defend ownership, you don’t defend leases and we’re going to have to defend Greenland,” Trump told reporters Friday.
We’ll do it “the easy way” or “the hard way,” Trump said — a comment that follows recent White House statements that the administration was considering purchasing the semi-autonomous territory from NATO member Denmark but was not eliminating the option of annexing it to the United States by force.
Denmark and Greenland say the territory is not for sale. Denmark has said military action would mean the end of the transatlantic defense alliance.
Although it is the least populated territory, Greenland’s location between North America and the Arctic makes it well-positioned for early warning systems for missile attacks and for monitoring ships in the region.
The US president has repeatedly said Greenland is vital to US national security, claiming without evidence that it is “covered with Russian and Chinese ships everywhere.”
The United States already has more than 100 troops permanently stationed at its Pituffik base on the northwest tip of Greenland, a facility operated by the United States since World War II.
Under existing agreements with Denmark, the United States has the authority to send as many troops as it wants to Greenland.
But speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump said a lease agreement was not enough.
“Countries cannot make deals for nine years, or even 100 years,” he said, adding that they need to own them.
“I love the Chinese people. I love the Russian people,” Trump said. “But I don’t want them to be our neighbors in Greenland, that’s not going to happen.”
“And besides, NATO must understand this,” added the American president.
Denmark’s NATO allies – major European countries as well as Canada – rallied to its support this week with statements reaffirming that “only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relationship.”
Stressing that they were as committed as the United States to Arctic security, they said this must be achieved by allies, including the United States, “collectively.”
They also called for “respecting the principles of the United Nations Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders.”
Concerns about the future of the territory resurfaced after Trump used military force on Saturday against Venezuela to seize its president, Nicolás Maduro.
Trump previously made an offer to buy the island in 2019, during his first presidential term, only to be told it was not for sale.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is due to hold talks with Denmark next week.
Recent years have also seen increased interest in Greenland’s natural resources – including rare earths, uranium and iron – which are becoming increasingly easier to access as ice melts due to climate change. Scientists believe it could also contain significant oil and gas reserves.
