US President Donald Trump intensified his campaign to secure Greenland, declaring the nation will act “the easy way” via purchase or “the hard way” to block Russia or China from dominating the resource-rich Arctic island.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!During a White House meeting with oil executives, Trump addressed reporters, saying, “We are going to do something in Greenland, whether they like it or not, because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor.”
“I would like to make a deal the easy way but if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way. And by the way, I’m a fan of Denmark too. I have to tell you, they have been very nice to me. I’m a big fan,” Trump said.
He asserted that the action was required to stop China or Russia from annexing Greenland in the future. The US president argued the move protects US interests, questioning Denmark’s historical claim.
Trump said, “I’m not talking about money for Greenland yet,” in response to a recent allegation that the US was considering paying Greenlanders to persuade them to join the US.
Greenland and Danish political leaders firmly rejected the US proposal and issued a statement. They affirmed the territory’s future belongs to Greenlanders, while expediting parliamentary discussions. They said they don’t want the island to be sold and that the future of Greenland must be determined by the Greenlandic people.
Residents also echoed this statement, with one Nuuk local, Simon Kjeldskov telling Reuters that no amount of money would change their minds. “No thank you. It’s absolutely certain that we don’t want that.”
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned military action could end NATO ties.
Diplomats from Denmark and Greenland met US officials on Thursday, with more talks planned, as Trump administration explored options including potential military intervention. The renewed push revived Trump’s long-standing interest in the strategically significant Danish-controlled territory’s strategic minerals, military bases, and melting ice opportunities.