live WUF13 opening ceremony held in Baku as global forum advances sustainable urban development
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the of...
U.S. President Donald Trump and his team say they're actively exploring options to acquire Greenland, with discussions including the potential use of U.S. military, which is "always an option," according to a statement from the White House on Tuesday.
The ambition to acquire Greenland, an Arctic island that has been at the centre of strategic interest from both Russia and China, has resurfaced in recent days. This comes in the wake of the U.S. arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday (3 January). Despite Greenland’s firm stance in rejecting any desire to become part of the United States, the U.S. administration remains undeterred.
A White House spokesperson, in response to queries from Reuters, confirmed that President Trump views the acquisition of Greenland as a national security priority. The aim, according to the statement, is to "deter our adversaries in the Arctic region."
“The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilising the U.S. military is always an option at the commander-in-chief's disposal,” the White House stated.
Sources within the U.S. government revealed that discussions about acquiring Greenland are ongoing in the Oval Office, with advisers deliberating various potential strategies. Trump’s push for the island has not been swayed by strong statements from NATO leaders in support of Greenland’s sovereignty, which remains fiercely defended by its local population.
“It’s not going away,” one senior U.S. official, speaking anonymously, said of Trump’s goal to secure Greenland before the end of his presidency.
Options being considered include the outright purchase of Greenland or the creation of a Compact of Free Association (COFA). A COFA would offer a different arrangement, stopping short of full U.S. statehood for the island, while still securing significant strategic ties. No potential price for such a purchase has been disclosed.
The U.S. administration argues that Greenland is crucial due to its untapped deposits of minerals, many of which are vital for high-tech and military applications. Despite the island’s significant resources, these remain largely unexploited due to challenges such as a shortage of labour and inadequate infrastructure. International reactions and NATO's support for Greenland
NATO leaders, along with Canada and other European powers, have consistently voiced their support for Greenland, asserting that the island belongs to its people and should remain free from foreign control.
However, the U.S. President’s interest in Greenland appears far from fading.
"Diplomacy is always the president’s first option with anything, and dealmaking. He loves deals," the senior official stated. "So if a good deal can be struck to acquire Greenland, that would definitely be his first instinct."
Despite international pushback, discussions on how to approach the potential acquisition of Greenland remain firmly in play as the Trump administration seeks to secure its position in the Arctic.
As the geopolitical importance of the Arctic region continues to grow, particularly in relation to climate change, mineral resources, and military strategy, Trump’s plans for Greenland remain a hotly debated issue.
Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, taking victory in a final overshadowed by a boycott over Israel’s participation and the war in Gaza.
At least eight people were injured after a driver rammed a car into pedestrians in the northern Italian city of Modena, authorities said on Saturday. Four of the victims were reported to be in serious condition.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
Jeffrey D. Sachs, an economist, public policy analyst, Columbia University professor, and UN advisor, said Azerbaijan and the wider South Caucasus could become one of the world’s key strategic connectors in an emerging multipolar order.
U.S. President Donald Trump says China's Xi Jinping agreed Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran prepares a new shipping mechanism. Tensions over the U.S. blockade and stalled nuclear talks continue to disrupt global oil supplies.
Israeli military strikes across Gaza killed at least eight Palestinians on Sunday, according to local health officials, as the Israel Defense Forces intensified operations targeting Hamas commanders and infrastructure across the enclave.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck China’s Guangxi region early on Monday, killing two people and forcing more than 7,000 residents in Liuzhou to evacuate as rescue efforts continued.
Russia carried out overnight drone strikes, air raids and shelling across Ukraine, hitting cities including Odesa and Dnipro, killing one person and injuring more than 30, according to Ukrainian officials on Monday (18 May).
Iran and Pakistan reviewed bilateral ties and the latest developments in the stalled Iran-U.S. peace negotiations mediated by Islamabad, as Tehran and Washington continue to refuse tangible concessions amid a fragile ceasefire and escalating verbal threats.
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