President Donald Trump said Saturday he has spoken with advisers about annexing Greenland and has not ruled out military force.
Trump made the comments in a 10-minute phone interview with NBC News. The president said that he has “absolutely” spoken with top aides about annexing Greenland, a semiautonomous Danish territory in the northwest hemisphere, and gave “100%” certainty that “we’ll get Greenland.”
On acquiring Greenland, there is a “good possibility that we could do it without military force,” Trump said, but added that “I don’t take anything off the table.”
Asked about what message the United States acquiring Greenland would send to Russia, Trump dismissed the question.
“I don’t really think about that. I don’t really care. Greenland’s a very separate subject, very different. It’s international peace. It’s international security and strength,” the president said. “You have ships sailing outside Greenland from Russia, from China and from many other places. And we’re not going to allow things to happen that are going to be — that are going to hurt the world or the United States.”
The Trump administration has expressed interest in purchasing Greenland from Denmark. Administration officials have said Greenland, with its proximity to Russia and Arctic shipping lanes, represents a key security interest for the United States. Officials have also expressed interest in tapping into Greenland’s natural resources.
Vice President JD Vance visited U.S. sites on Greenland last week and scolded Denmark for its management of the territory,
“Our message to Denmark is very simple — you have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Vance said. “You have underinvested in the people of Greenland and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful land mass.”
“What we think is going to happen is that the Greenlanders are going to choose through self-determination to become independent of Denmark, and then we’re going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there,” he added.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen posted a video to social media after Vance’s visit hitting back at criticism from the White House.
“Many accusations and many allegations have been made. And of course, we are open to criticism,” Rasmussen said. “But let me be completely honest: we do not appreciate the tone in which it is being delivered. This is not how you speak to your close allies. And I still consider Denmark and the United States to be close allies.”
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[[{“value”:”
President Donald Trump said Saturday he has spoken with advisers about annexing Greenland and has not ruled out military force.
Trump made the comments in a 10-minute phone interview with NBC News. The president said that he has “absolutely” spoken with top aides about annexing Greenland, a semiautonomous Danish territory in the northwest hemisphere, and gave “100%” certainty that “we’ll get Greenland.”
On acquiring Greenland, there is a “good possibility that we could do it without military force,” Trump said, but added that “I don’t take anything off the table.”
Asked about what message the United States acquiring Greenland would send to Russia, Trump dismissed the question.
“I don’t really think about that. I don’t really care. Greenland’s a very separate subject, very different. It’s international peace. It’s international security and strength,” the president said. “You have ships sailing outside Greenland from Russia, from China and from many other places. And we’re not going to allow things to happen that are going to be — that are going to hurt the world or the United States.”
The Trump administration has expressed interest in purchasing Greenland from Denmark. Administration officials have said Greenland, with its proximity to Russia and Arctic shipping lanes, represents a key security interest for the United States. Officials have also expressed interest in tapping into Greenland’s natural resources.
Vice President JD Vance visited U.S. sites on Greenland last week and scolded Denmark for its management of the territory,
“Our message to Denmark is very simple — you have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Vance said. “You have underinvested in the people of Greenland and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful land mass.”
“What we think is going to happen is that the Greenlanders are going to choose through self-determination to become independent of Denmark, and then we’re going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there,” he added.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen posted a video to social media after Vance’s visit hitting back at criticism from the White House.
“Many accusations and many allegations have been made. And of course, we are open to criticism,” Rasmussen said. “But let me be completely honest: we do not appreciate the tone in which it is being delivered. This is not how you speak to your close allies. And I still consider Denmark and the United States to be close allies.”
“}]]
