President Trump told reporters that “two dog sleds” are the only way to protect Greenland, as the Arctic island’s government warns it “will not accept” a U.S. takeover.
President Trump wants Greenland, here’s why
President Donald Trump has repeatedly talked about occupying Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. Why does he desire the ice island so much?
President Donald Trump continues to push for a U.S. takeover of Greenland, including by force, as European allies express regret over his threats against the Danish territory.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday, January 11, President Trump brushed aside questions about how a potential occupation of the self-governing Arctic island would affect the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), emphasizing that the United States needs Greenland for national security.
President Trump said, “I would love to make an agreement with them.” “That would make things easier. But either way, we’re going to get Greenland.”
During his first term, President Trump floated the idea of taking over Greenland, including a U.S. takeover in 2019. Officials in both Denmark and Greenland have made it clear that it is not for sale.
Despite strong international opposition and a lack of appetite for invasion among many within his own party, President Trump has become increasingly vocal about the idea over the past few months. He has gone from mulling buying Greenland to threatening it, most recently saying on January 9 that the United States would take control of Greenland either “the easy way” or “the hard way.”
Denmark has ruled Greenland for centuries, but the region has been slowly moving toward independence since 1979. President Trump has repeatedly cited national security as a reason for wanting Greenland, a strategic gateway to the Arctic region. The island also has important minerals used in industries that China has a near monopoly on, such as graphite, copper, nickel, zinc, tungsten and lithium, which are used to manufacture modern technology.
Greenland says US takeover is ‘unacceptable’
President Trump has said he has not made an offer to Denmark for Greenland and has made repeated comments over the past month suggesting that China and Russia pose a threat to the resource-rich island.
President Trump said of Greenland, which has a population of about 57,000 people, “their defense is two dog sleds.” The United States has air bases within the territory.
Greenland’s coalition government said in a statement on Monday, January 12, that the U.S. takeover “cannot be accepted in any form.”
Trump’s comments have also prompted a growing number of European allies to push back, reasserting long-standing norms and international law of sovereignty and insisting that NATO is already addressing Arctic security concerns.
Several European powers joined Denmark in issuing a joint statement on January 6, disputing the administration’s assertion that U.S. territorial control is necessary for Arctic security.
“NATO has made clear the Arctic is a priority and our European allies are stepping up,” the countries, including Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom, said in a statement.
“Greenland belongs to the people,” they added. “Denmark and Greenland, and they alone, decide matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
Officials warn that NATO will end if US invades
When asked by a reporter whether occupying Greenland would violate NATO, the president seemed to shrug his shoulders.
“I saved NATO,” he said, adding, “If I wasn’t president, we wouldn’t have NATO.”
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on January 12 that member states were discussing next steps to collectively keep the Arctic safe, in an effort to address President Trump’s security concerns. Rutte said discussions on Arctic security had already begun last year and member states were currently discussing next steps.
The Greenlandic government also took a tough stance against the U.S. takeover, saying it would “intensify efforts to ensure Greenland’s defense is carried out under the auspices of NATO.”
On the same day, NATO Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius told Reuters that if U.S. forces occupied Greenland, NATO would end.
Contributed by: Reuters.
Kathryn Palmer is USA TODAY’s political reporter. She can be reached at the following address: kapalmer@usatoday.com And to X@Kathryn Purml. Sign up for her daily politics newsletter here.
