US President Donald Trump has said he believes the United States will take control of Greenland, after showing renewed interest in acquiring Danish autonomy in recent weeks.
“I think we’re going to have it,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday, adding, “We want the island’s 57,000 residents to stay with us.”
His comments come after reports that Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen insisted Greenland cannot be sold in a heated phone call with the president last week.
President Trump mentioned the possibility of purchasing the vast Arctic territory during his first term in 2019 and said U.S. control of Greenland was “absolutely necessary” for international security.
“I think the people want to be with us,” Trump said in the press room on the presidential plane.
He added, “I’m not sure what Denmark’s argument is, but it’s to protect the free world, so if Denmark doesn’t allow it, it would be a very unfriendly action.”
“I think we’re going to get Greenland because it’s about freedom in the world,” Trump said.
“It has nothing to do with America except that we can offer freedom. They can’t do that.”
Despite Trump’s apparent confidence, the prime ministers of Greenland and Denmark have previously said the islands are not for sale.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede said land use in the territory was “Greenland’s business.” Working more closely with the United States on defense and mining.
Meanwhile, Danish premiere Frederiksen said earlier this month that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders” and that only local residents can decide its future.
Frederiksen reaffirmed his position during a heated 45-minute phone call with President Trump last week. According to a report in the Financial Times.
The newspaper quoted an unnamed European official as saying the talks were “horrible,” while another said Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland was “serious and potentially very dangerous.”
The Danish Prime Minister insisted the island was not for sale but was reported to have stated that the United States had a “huge interest” in it.
Greenland is strategically important to the United States because it is located on the shortest route from North America to Europe. It is also home to America’s largest space facilities.
Interest in Greenland’s natural resources, including rare earth minerals, uranium and iron mining, has grown in recent years.
The island has extensive autonomy but is still part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
But there is general agreement that Greenland will eventually become independent, opening the way for a new relationship with the United States.
President Trump’s claim that Greenlanders “want to stay with us” may come as a surprise to some islanders.
Fishing boat captain of Kapisilit settlement told the BBC President Trump said he welcomes visits to the island but that Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.
And local church elder Kaleirak Ringstead said Trump’s comments were “unacceptable,” adding, “Greenland is not for sale.”
there is several ways Trump may pursue his desire to seize territory. When asked in early January whether he could rule out the use of military or economic power, President Trump responded that he could not.
His latest comments shocked Danish political circles and prompted a hastily organized high-level meeting in Copenhagen. earlier this month.
