U.S. President Donald Trump is considering different ways to acquire Greenland, including possible military action. The White House has stated that gaining control of Greenland, which is a semi-autonomous part of Denmark, is important for national security.
This statement came after European leaders expressed their support for Denmark, which has been rejecting Trump’s plans for the Arctic Island.
Trump said over the weekend that the U.S. “needed” Greenland for security. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that any U.S. attack would threaten the future of NATO.
On Tuesday, the White House said, “The president and his team are looking at various options to achieve this important foreign policy goal, and using the U.S. military is always an option for the commander-in-chief.”
NATO is a military alliance where member countries support each other in case of attacks.
Trump Has No Plans to Take Over Greenland – Rubio
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Monday that the Trump administration did not plan to invade Greenland. Instead, he talked about the idea of buying the island from Denmark, according to the Wall Street Journal and other U.S. media.
On Tuesday, a State Department spokesperson said that the U.S. wants to create lasting business relationships that benefit Americans and the people of Greenland.
The spokesperson added that the United States, Denmark, and NATO allies share concerns about increasing activity from common adversaries in the Arctic.
Greenland and Denmark have asked to meet with Rubio soon to discuss U.S. claims about the island. Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, said talking with America’s top diplomat should help clear up “certain misunderstandings.”
On the same day, six European allies showed support for Denmark. They stated that “Greenland belongs to its people, and only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relations.”
The European leaders emphasized that they also care about security in the Arctic. They believe this security must be achieved together with NATO allies, including the U.S. They also urged everyone to follow the principles of the UN Charter, including respecting sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders.
Respectful Dialogue
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, praised a recent statement and called for “respectful dialogue.”
He said, “The dialogue must respect Greenland’s status, which is based on international law and the principle of territorial integrity.”
Concerns about Greenland’s future arose after the U.S. military intervened in Venezuela. U.S. troops captured President Nicolás Maduro and took him to face drug and weapons charges in New York.
A day later, Katie Miller, the wife of one of Trump’s senior aides, shared a map of Greenland in the colors of the U.S. flag on social media with the word “SOON.”
On Monday, her husband, Stephen Miller, stated that it was the “formal position of the U.S. government that Greenland should be part of the U.S.”
When asked during a CNN interview if the U.S. would rule out using force to take Greenland, Miller replied, “Nobody’s going to fight the U.S. over the future of Greenland.”
Greenland has about 57,000 residents and has enjoyed self-government since 1979, although Denmark still controls its defense and foreign policy.
Most Greenlanders want independence from Denmark, but many do not support becoming part of the U.S., where a military base already exists.
Morgan Angaju, a 27-year-old Inuit from Ilulissat in western Greenland, expressed his fears, saying, “It was terrifying to hear the leader of the free world laughing at Denmark and Greenland and talking about us as if we are something to be claimed.”
He highlighted, “We are already claimed by the Greenlandic people,” explaining that “Kalaallit Nunaat” means “the land of the Greenlandic people.”
Angaju is also worried about what might happen next. He wonders if Greenland’s Prime Minister could face a similar fate to Maduro or if the U.S. might “invade our country.”
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