Trump Says U.S. ‘Needs’ Greenland as EU Struggles to Respond
European leaders bristled after the U.S. president argued that control of the Arctic island is essential to counter growing Russian and Chinese activity in the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen
Christian Hartmann / POOL / AFP
European leaders bristled after the U.S. president argued that control of the Arctic island is essential to counter growing Russian and Chinese activity in the region.
Donald Trump is causing upset in Denmark again, after appointing a special envoy to Greenland, the Arctic island he has said he wants to annex.
The move, which Denmark called “totally unacceptable,” prompted Copenhagen to summon the U.S. ambassador on Monday.
European Union officials also reacted angrily. Commission spokesman Anouar El Anouni stressed that “preserving the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, its sovereignty and the inviability of its borders is essential for the European Union.”
But Trump is not letting up on what he describes as a “big deal.”
He insisted on Monday that the effective annexing of Greenland is not a want but a “need,” in particular for “national protection.”
We need Greenland for national security. Not for minerals. We have so many sites for minerals and oil and everything. …
If you take a look at Greenland, you look up and down the coast, you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need it for national security. We have to have it.
.@POTUS: "We need Greenland for national security… you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place." pic.twitter.com/CSaCOscdJH
The president likely caused particular upset when he questioned Denmark’s claim over the territory, jibing: “They say that Denmark was there 300 years ago or something with a boat. But we were there with boats too, I’m sure. So we’ll have to work it all out.”
French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday visited Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, where he “reaffirmed France’s unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland.”
In Nuuk, I reaffirmed France’s unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland.
Greenland belongs to its people. Denmark stands as its guarantor.
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
Trump is right. It’s in Europe’s best interest to have the US on Greenland for their own safety and balance of power on the world’s stage. Europe can’t even take care of itself.
One Response
Trump is right. It’s in Europe’s best interest to have the US on Greenland for their own safety and balance of power on the world’s stage. Europe can’t even take care of itself.