Donald Trump has reaffirmed his commitment to acquiring Greenland, refusing to rule out the use of military force in annexing the self-governing Danish territory, whose leaders have repeatedly rebuffed his advances.
In an interview with NBC News on Saturday, Trump said that the U.S. has an “obligation” to acquire the Arctic island, reiterating that its acquisition is crucial to America’s security interests.
“We’ll get Greenland. Yeah, 100%,” he said, adding: “We have an obligation to protect the world. This is world peace, this is international security.”
Trump, who has made the U.S. annexation of Greenland a central theme of his presidency, also refused to take military force off the table but said it might not be necessary.
“No, I never take military force off the table. But I think there’s a good possibility that we could do it without military force,” he said.
Trump’s remark came just a day after Vice President JD Vance visited a U.S. military installation in Greenland, where he criticized Denmark for “underinvested” in the territory’s defense.
“Our message to Denmark is very simple. You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Vance said, adding: “That has to change. And because it hasn’t changed, this is why President Trump’s policy in Greenland is what it is.”
“We’ll get Greenland. Yeah, 100%,” he said, adding: “We have an obligation to protect the world. This is world peace, this is international security.”
Trump, who has made the U.S. annexation of Greenland a central theme of his presidency, also refused to take military force off the table but said it might not be necessary.
“No, I never take military force off the table. But I think there’s a good possibility that we could do it without military force,” he said.
Trump’s remark came just a day after Vice President JD Vance visited a U.S. military installation in Greenland, where he criticized Denmark for “underinvested” in the territory’s defense.
“Our message to Denmark is very simple. You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Vance said, adding: “That has to change. And because it hasn’t changed, this is why President Trump’s policy in Greenland is what it is.”
“Denmark has not kept pace and devoted the resources necessary to keep this base, to keep our troops, and in my view, to keep the people of Greenland safe from a lot of very aggressive incursions from Russia, from China and other nations,” Vance continued, though he provided no details of the alleged incursions.
Vance added that the U.S. has no immediate plans to expand its military presence on the ground but will invest in resources including additional naval ships.
As Greenlanders expressed deep unease about the visit, Vance vowed the people of Greenland would have “self-determination” and the U.S. would respect its sovereignty.
He said: “I think that they ultimately will partner with the United States.
“We can make them much more secure. We could do a lot more protection. And I think they’d fare a lot better economically as well.”
His remarks came just hours after a new broad government coalition that aims to keep ties with Denmark for now was presented in the capital, Nuuk.
Greenland’s new prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said the U.S. visit signalled a “lack of respect.” while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called it “unacceptable.”
Polls have shown that nearly all Greenlanders oppose joining the U.S.
Vance added that the U.S. has no immediate plans to expand its military presence on the ground but will invest in resources including additional naval ships.
As Greenlanders expressed deep unease about the visit, Vance vowed the people of Greenland would have “self-determination” and the U.S. would respect its sovereignty.
He said: “I think that they ultimately will partner with the United States.
“We can make them much more secure. We could do a lot more protection. And I think they’d fare a lot better economically as well.”
His remarks came just hours after a new broad government coalition that aims to keep ties with Denmark for now was presented in the capital, Nuuk.
Greenland’s new prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said the U.S. visit signalled a “lack of respect.” while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called it “unacceptable.”
Polls have shown that nearly all Greenlanders oppose joining the U.S.
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