Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump argued that merely having a military presence on the island under an existing agreement is not enough to guarantee its defense, and that full ownership would strengthen U.S. strategic security in the region.
Trump noted that the United States already maintains troops in Greenland under a 1951 defense agreement with Denmark, but he said that the U.S. must move beyond defensive arrangements and assume ownership.
'You defend ownership. You don't defend leases,' he told journalists, suggesting that without such a move Russia or China could gain influence in Greenlandâ€"an outcome he considered unacceptable for U.S. national security.
Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark with a population of about 57,000 people, and it is not part of the United States. Trump suggested several options to make this happen, including potential financial incentives for Greenlanders to consider breaking away from Danish control and joining the United States, although he did not provide specific financial figures.
The proposal has drawn strong negative reactions from European leaders. Officials from France, Germany, Denmark and other NATO allies issued a joint statement reaffirming that decisions about Greenland's future belong exclusively to Greenland and Denmark, and warning against foreign interference in the island's status.
Leaders in Greenland itself have firmly rejected Trump's push for U.S. control. A joint statement by political party leaders emphasized that Greenland's future should be decided by its own people, highlighting concerns about sovereignty and international law. They insisted the island is not for sale and reaffirmed calls for self‑determination without outside pressure.
Denmark's prime minister also condemned the idea, warning that any move to take control of Greenland by force would jeopardize the stability of NATO, the transatlantic military alliance that includes both Denmark and the United States as members. Critics have said that a forced takeover would undermine trust between longstanding allies and could weaken broader cooperation on global security issues.
In response to the escalating controversy, Greenland's parliament said it will bring forward a meeting specifically to address the situation and discuss how to protect the territory's rights and future amid external pressure from Washington.
Trump's renewed push to acquire Greenland revives a controversial idea he first floated during his first presidential term, but it comes at a time of heightened global competition in the Arctic, where Russia and China have been increasing their presence.
Rania Umutoni
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/trump-wants-u-s-to-own-greenland-to-deter-russia-and-china
