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Trump Asserts U.S. Will Acquire Greenland Amid Danish Opposition

Jan 26, 2025, 07:55 AM

Donald Trump has reiterated his belief that the United States will gain control of Greenland, citing strategic and security reasons. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump stated that the island's 57,000 residents "want to be with us" and described U.S. control of Greenland as an "absolute necessity" for international security. He also suggested that Denmark's refusal to allow such a move would be "very unfriendly" and linked the acquisition to the broader concept of "freedom for the world." This follows a heated phone exchange with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who reaffirmed that Greenland is not for sale and that its future lies in the hands of its local population. Greenland's Prime Minister, Mute Egede, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Greenland's autonomy while expressing willingness to collaborate with the U.S. on defense and mining. Greenland, a strategically significant Arctic territory located on the shortest route between North America and Europe, has drawn increased interest due to its natural resources, including rare earth minerals and uranium. Trump initially floated the idea of acquiring Greenland during his first term in 2019 and has not ruled out the use of military or economic force to achieve this goal. Despite Trump's confidence, his comments have sparked criticism in Denmark and Greenland, with local leaders asserting that the island is not for sale.