Trump renews push to acquire Greenland, cites security and resources

President Donald Trump has renewed efforts to acquire Greenland, proposing to buy the autonomous territory and repeatedly threatening annexation, Time reports. He told The Atlantic, "We do need Greenland, absolutely," and has framed control of the island as essential to U.S. national and "economic security." Administration officials point to Greenland’s strategic position from the Atlantic to the Arctic and to rich natural resources, saying the island would help monitor Russian and Chinese military activity; the president told The Atlantic it is "surrounded" by Chinese and Russian ships.

Officials have not ruled out force, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that "utilizing the U.S. military is always an option." The proposal has drawn pushback from Greenland, Denmark, other European leaders and some U.S. Republicans; eight European leaders issued a joint statement defending Arctic sovereignty, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned a U.S.

attack would end NATO. U.S. officials have scheduled diplomatic talks: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he intends to speak with Danish officials next week, and Denmark’s ambassador and Greenland’s envoy met with National Security Council staff. The Administration has also considered offering Greenlanders cash payments of $10,000 to $15,000 to join the U.S., Reuters reported.

Key Topics

World, Greenland, Donald Trump, Denmark, Nato, Giuk Gap