President Donald Trump stated on Monday that the United States will acquire Greenland “one way or another,” ahead of anticipated discussions between his administration and Danish officials regarding the ongoing dispute over the island.
Speaking from Air Force One, Trump asserted, “Greenland needs to make a deal, because they don’t want to be controlled by Russia or China.” He added that a deal would be the easiest option, but reiterated, “We will get Greenland one way or another.”
Regarding the potential impact of the Greenland issue on Washington’s European allies, Trump suggested that if the U.S. pursuit of the Danish territory affects the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), “so be it.”
In an interview last Thursday, Trump acknowledged he might have to choose between maintaining NATO unity and securing control of Greenland. Authorities in Greenland, which possesses self-governance, Denmark, and other European nations oppose the Trump administration’s efforts to acquire the world’s largest island, citing concerns about protecting it from Russian and Chinese dominance.
In response to Trump’s remarks, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged Washington to “not use other countries as a pretext to achieve its own interests.” The spokesperson stated at a press conference, “The Arctic region concerns the common interests of the entire global community,” calling for respect for the rights and freedoms of all nations to conduct legitimate activities in the Arctic.
In related developments, the German Foreign Minister is holding high-level talks in Washington today with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss Washington’s threats to annex Greenland. Bloomberg reports that Germany will propose the formation of a joint NATO mission to protect the Arctic region.
CBS News reports that U.S. administration officials are scheduled to meet with Danish officials on Wednesday to discuss the Greenland issue. European diplomats reportedly understand that Washington’s commitment to defense…
