President Donald Trump says the US needs to own Greenland to prevent Russia and China from doing so. Countries have to have ownership and you defend ownership, you don't defend leases. And we'll have to defend Greenland, Trump told reporters on Friday in response to a question from the BBC.
The US administration has been floating the idea of purchasing the semi-autonomous territory of Denmark but would not rule out the option of annexing it by force. Denmark and Greenland have made it clear that the territory is not for sale, with warnings that military action could jeopardize their alliance with NATO.
Greenland's political leaders reiterated their desire to maintain independence, stating, We do not want to be Americans, we do not want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders. The future of Greenland must be decided by the Greenlandic people.
Despite its sparse population, Greenland's strategic location is essential for monitoring Arctic and North Atlantic activity, notably missile threats. Trump has asserted that the island holds significant value to US national security, an assertion met with skepticism.
The US already has more than 100 military personnel stationed in Greenland’s Pituffik Air Base, emphasizing its ongoing strategic interests. While Trump's assertions raise concerns, allies have defended Denmark's sovereignty and called for collective efforts for Arctic security without undermining territorial integrity.
The US administration has been floating the idea of purchasing the semi-autonomous territory of Denmark but would not rule out the option of annexing it by force. Denmark and Greenland have made it clear that the territory is not for sale, with warnings that military action could jeopardize their alliance with NATO.
Greenland's political leaders reiterated their desire to maintain independence, stating, We do not want to be Americans, we do not want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders. The future of Greenland must be decided by the Greenlandic people.
Despite its sparse population, Greenland's strategic location is essential for monitoring Arctic and North Atlantic activity, notably missile threats. Trump has asserted that the island holds significant value to US national security, an assertion met with skepticism.
The US already has more than 100 military personnel stationed in Greenland’s Pituffik Air Base, emphasizing its ongoing strategic interests. While Trump's assertions raise concerns, allies have defended Denmark's sovereignty and called for collective efforts for Arctic security without undermining territorial integrity.
