President Donald Trump believes the United States will take control of Greenland after showing renewed interest in acquiring the autonomous Danish territory in recent weeks.
“I think we’ll have it,” he told reporters at Air Force 1 on Saturday, adding that the island’s 57,000 residents “want to stay with us.”
His comments were echoed by Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who insisted Greenland was not sold following a fiery phone call with the president last week.
Trump floated the prospect of purchasing the vast Arctic territory during his first term in 2019, and said U.S. control of Greenland was an “absolute necessity” for international security.
“I think people want to be with us,” Trump said when asked about the island of media aboard the presidential plane.
“I don’t know what Denmark is arguing for, but it is for the protection of the free world, so failing to do so would be a very unfriendly action,” he added.
“I think we’re going to go to Greenland because it has to do with freedom in the world,” Trump said.
“It has nothing to do with America, not who we can offer freedom to. They can’t.”
Despite Trump’s apparent confidence, the Greenlandic and Danish prime ministers previously said the islands were not for sale.
Greenland’s MUTE Egede said it was “Greenland’s business” to use the territory’s land, but he had expressed his will. Working more closely with the United States on defense and mining.
Meanwhile, Denmark’s Frederiksen said earlier this month: “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.” And he said only the local population can decide its future.
Frederiksen reaffirmed her position in a 45-minute phone exchange with Trump last week. According to a report in the Financial Times.
The paper reports that an unnamed European official said the talks were “horrible” and that Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland was “serious and potentially very dangerous.”
The Danish Prime Minister insisted the island was not for sale but cited “huge interest” from the United States.
Greenland is on the shortest route from North America to Europe and is strategically important to the United States. We also have a large space facility in the United States.
In recent years, there has been increased interest in Greenland’s natural resources, including mining for rare earth minerals, uranium and iron.
The island has extensive autonomy, but remains part of the Kingdom of Demark.
But there is general agreement in Greenland that it will eventually become independent, which could pave the way for a new relationship with the United States.
It’s there several ways President Trump could pursue his desire to seize territory. Trump asked in early January whether military or economic force could be used to rule it out.
