PresidentDonald Trumphas once again set his sights onGreenland, escalating his campaign for US control of the strategic Arctic island. Speaking to reporters aboardAir Force One, Trump claimed Greenland’s security was dangerously weak, joking that its defence amounted to“two dog sleds.”
Trump said the US cannot risk allowingRussia or Chinato expand their military presence in the Arctic. He warned thatRussian and Chinese submarines and warshipsare already operating in the region and that the US must step in to prevent them from gaining influence over Greenland.
“We’re not talking about leasing. We’re talking about acquiring,” Trump said, making it clear that Washington is no longer interested in a temporary arrangement with Denmark, which currently oversees Greenland as a self-governing territory.
He added that Greenland needs the United States more than the US needs Greenland and insisted that if Washington does not act,“Russia or China will take Greenland.”
Greenland’s leadership has firmly rejected Trump’s remarks. Prime MinisterJens-Frederik Nielsenand leaders of four political parties issued a joint statement saying:
“We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders.”
They stressed that Greenland’s future must be decided by its own people, not foreign powers.
Danish Prime MinisterMette Frederiksenwarned that Trump’s comments couldthreaten NATO itself, saying that if the US were to move against another NATO member, it would shatter the alliance’s foundations.
Denmark’s Defence Ministry has also reiterated a standing directive thatDanish forces must immediately respondif any foreign military attempts to invade Danish territory — including Greenland.
Greenland’s location in the Arctic makes it strategically vital formilitary surveillance, shipping routes, and global security, which is why the US, Russia and China all view it as important.
For now, however, Greenland and Denmark remain united in sayingthe island is not for sale.
