President Donald Trump again raised the possibility of using military force to bring Greenland under U.S. control, saying such an action could be necessary for global security.
A territory of Denmark that is prized for its strategic geopolitical value, Greenland lies in the Arctic Circle. In recent years, fears have grown about China and Russia’s increased activity in the region, as the two countries prowl the Arctic waters with weapons that experts warn are superior to NATO capabilities.
Trump has repeatedly said of Greenland that it is “not possible to properly defend a large section of this Earth, not just the United States, without it.” During a Meet the Press interview with NBC host Kristen Welker that aired Sunday, he reiterated his concerns when the anchor pressed him on whether he would ever use military force to acquire the world’s largest island.
“I don’t rule it out,” Trump said. “I don’t say I’m going to do it, but I don’t rule out anything. No, not there. We need Greenland very badly. Greenland is a very small amount of people, which we’ll take care of, and we’ll cherish them, and all of that. But we need that for international security.”
His words come in the wake of reports this year from the U.S. intelligence community and the Danish Defense Intelligence Service that Chinese and Russian influence in the Arctic waters was growing, posing a danger to the international community.
“China’s long-term goal is to expand access to Greenland’s natural resources, as well as to use the same access as a key strategic foothold for advancing China’s broader and economic aims in the Arctic,” the Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s report read.
“Within two years, Russia could pose a credible threat to one or several NATO countries if NATO does not build up its own military power at the same rate as Russia. This calls for swift political action,” Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen warned in response to a report from the Danish Defense Intelligence Service.
Security experts have also warned that China and Russia are building up a fleet of active icebreakers, including nuclear-powered variants, that are superior to NATO capabilities.
On Sunday, after dismissing the idea of using military force on Canada, Trump stressed that “something could happen with Greenland.”
“I’ll be honest, we need that for national and international security,” he said.
The president has weathered intense criticism from Greenland officials, Danish leaders, and Democrats in the U.S. for his stance on acquiring the island.
TRUMP WANTS TO TAKE OVER GREENLAND AND HE HAS SEVERAL OPTIONS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN
A recent poll found that the overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens are also against the idea. The ABC News/Washington Post poll released last week found that 76% of respondents opposed trying to take control of Greenland.
“Polls have never accurately captured the widespread for support President Trump, who was elected with a resounding mandate to restore peace through strength and Make America Safe Again,” the White House told Politico in response to the poll. “The President believes Greenland is a strategically important location, and is confident Greenlanders would be better served if protected by the United States from modern threats in the Arctic region.”
