Warning of a strategic threat from Russia and China, Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States must acquire Greenland to prevent the Arctic island from falling under foreign control.
Greenland occupies a strategically important position in the Arctic, close to emerging shipping routes and rich in critical minerals, and hosts a key U.S. military base.
Speaking to reporters at the White House during a meeting with oil industry executives, Trump said Washington would act regardless of opposition.
"We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not," he said, warning that Russia or China could otherwise seek to take control of the island.
Trump said the presence of Russian and Chinese naval and submarine activity near Greenland underscored what he described as an urgent security risk, adding that the U.S. would not allow either country to occupy the territory.
Trump said existing arrangements were insufficient to guarantee the island’s security, despite the U.S. maintaining a military presence there under a 1951 defence agreement with Denmark.
"You defend ownership. You don’t defend leases," he said, arguing that only full U.S. control could ensure Greenland’s defence.
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and opinion polls have consistently shown limited public support for joining the U.S.
The comments mark Trump’s most explicit call for U.S. ownership of Greenland since returning to office.
The U.S. has explored several options for expanding its control over Greenland, including offering financial incentives to residents to encourage a break from Denmark, and has not ruled out military involvement.
The remarks prompted strong criticism from Denmark and other European countries. Denmark and the U.S. are both members of NATO and are bound by a collective defence agreement.
Earlier this week, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the U.K. said in a joint statement that any decision on Greenland’s future could only be taken by Greenland and Denmark.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 24th of February, covering the latest developments you need to...
An investigation into a protest outside a Washington, D.C. hotel on 19 February, where President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was staying, has revealed ...
Global transportation company FedEx has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade seeking a refund for President Donald Trump's emergen...
Four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the war is no longer defined by shock but by scale....
The son of Hollywood filmmaker Rob Reiner, pleaded not guilty on Monday (23 February) to murdering his parents at their Los Angeles home in December. ...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 24th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
An investigation into a protest outside a Washington, D.C. hotel on 19 February, where President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was staying, has revealed new details, placing the incident within a broader security context.
Global transportation company FedEx has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade seeking a refund for President Donald Trump's emergency tariffs it paid under the overturned International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
Four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the war is no longer defined by shock but by scale.
Italy said a fond farewell to the Winter Olympics on Sunday with an open-air ceremony in the ancient Verona Arena that celebrated art and sporting achievement at a Games lauded as a model for how to stage such events.
The United States and Iran will hold a new round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva on Thursday as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to reach a potential agreement, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi announced on Sunday.
Further Iran-U.S. nuclear talks are scheduled in Geneva on Thursday (26 February) as diplomacy resumes over Tehran’s nuclear programme following earlier mediation efforts. But will the talks move Iran-U.S. negotiations closer to a deal, and what should be expected from the meeting?
Mexican authorities said on Sunday that Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho and head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed during a military operation in the western state of Jalisco.
The European Parliament’s trade chief has urged a temporary suspension of the EU–U.S. trade agreement approval, citing “tariff chaos” following President Donald Trump’s new 15% tariffs and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling invalidating his previous global tariff programme.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 24th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Global transportation company FedEx has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade seeking a refund for President Donald Trump's emergency tariffs it paid under the overturned International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
Four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the war is no longer defined by shock but by scale.
The son of Hollywood filmmaker Rob Reiner, pleaded not guilty on Monday (23 February) to murdering his parents at their Los Angeles home in December. Nick Reiner, 32, entered not guilty pleas to two counts of first-degree murder during an arraignment at Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Thousands of people gathered across Europe and beyond over the weekend in solidarity with Ukraine, as the war with Russia entered its fifth year.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment