Washington: President Donald Trump has asserted that the United States intends to acquire Greenland, framing the move as a geopolitical necessity to prevent the strategic Arctic territory from falling under Russian or Chinese influence.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump presented the acquisition as inevitable. "If we don't take Greenland, Russia or China will," he stated. "And I'm not letting that happen."
While expressing a preference for a negotiated settlement, the President emphasized that the outcome was non-negotiable. "I'd love to make a deal with 'em. It's easier," he said. "But one way or the other, we're gonna have Greenland."
When pressed on whether military action was an option, Trump focused on the concept of permanent possession rather than temporary arrangements. "We're talking about acquiring, not leasing, not having it short term," he clarified. "You need ownership. You really need a title, as they say in the real estate business."
The President dismissed suggestions that such a move might destabilize the NATO alliance, claiming credit for strengthening the organization. "I'm the one that saved NATO," he remarked, incorrectly asserting that member nations were now contributing "5 per cent of GDP."
Trump also disparaged Greenland's current defensive capabilities while highlighting the military expansion of rival powers in the region. He claimed Greenland's defense consisted of "two dog sleds," contrasting this with "Russian destroyers and submarines and Chinese destroyers and submarines all over the place."
Despite the bold declarations, Trump confirmed that no formal offer had yet been presented to Denmark, of which Greenland is an autonomous territory. "I haven't done that, but Greenland should make the deal," he added.
Greenland holds immense strategic value due to its Arctic location, serving as a gateway to emerging shipping lanes and military corridors. While the US currently maintains a military presence on the island, Arctic security has increasingly become a focal point of tension amid rising Russian and Chinese activity in the region.
(Inputs from IANS)