President Trump on Tuesday reiterated his desire to acquire Greenland, a declaration that will assuredly ruffle feathers at this week’s NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
Especially opposing the idea is alliance member Denmark.
“Greenland doesn’t help Denmark. Denmark doesn’t spend money to really help Greenland, but it’s an important part for the United States,” Mr. Trump said during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Greenland, Mr. Trump said, “should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark.”
Denmark retains control over Greenland’s foreign policy, national security and monetary policy, but Greenland operates as an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Mr. Trump has long sought control of mineral-rich Greenland, saying he’s concerned that Russia and China are already making inroads.
In addition to its supply of critical minerals, Greenland’s location would make it an indispensable site for America’s ballistic missile early warning systems and space surveillance, plus give the U.S. access to new transpolar shipping routes.
A senior U.S. official told reporters on a conference call this week that a U.S. takeover of Greenland is the only way to address long-term security risks.
“We still think that’s the best way to meet the defense needs of NATO with respect to Greenland,” the official said. “And as of now, the only solution that we found as to how to solve that is with the United States acquiring Greenland.”
Mr. Trump’s desire to gain Greenland has aggravated Scandinavian countries besides Denmark, plus some others in Europe. He has ruled out using military force to take over the massive island between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans.
