Washington: US President Donald Trump has suggested that the United States may one day annex Greenland, despite recent comments from the island’s new prime minister rejecting any interest in closer ties with America.
During a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, Trump was asked about his views on acquiring Greenland. “I think that will happen,” he stated, adding that he hadn’t seriously considered it before but now saw potential benefits. “Mark here could play a big role in this. You know, we need it for international security.”
Trump went on to question Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland, pointing out the geographical distance between the two. “A boat landed there 200 years ago or something, and they say they have rights to it. I don’t know if that’s true. I don’t think it is, actually,” he remarked.
The president also hinted at an increased US military presence on the island, saying, “We already have soldiers there. Maybe you’ll see more and more.”
Trump’s comments follow Greenland’s recent elections, in which the center-right Demokraatit party emerged victorious. The result was widely interpreted as a rejection of Trump’s previous attempts to influence Greenlandic politics. The party’s leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, has emphasized a gradual path toward independence from Denmark, stating, “We want to build our own country by ourselves.”
Despite this, Trump claimed the election outcome was favorable for the US, saying, “The person who did the best is a very good person as far as we’re concerned.” He had previously promised significant American investment in Greenland, pledging to bring economic prosperity to the territory.
In addition to his Greenland comments, Trump also addressed recent remarks from Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Ukraine. While Putin expressed openness to a ceasefire, he also raised numerous concerns. Trump responded by reiterating his willingness to negotiate, saying, “Hopefully, Russia will do the right thing.”
