Pentagon has specific plans in place to invade Greenland by force following Trump's threats
Topics: Greenland, US News, Donald Trump, Politics
Britt Jones
Featured Image Credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Greenland, US News, Donald Trump, Politics
Donald Trump’s bid to secure Greenland and for it to become a part of the US continues - with a fail-safe plan now in place.
Since his inauguration this year, Donald Trump has been persistent in his America First and security goals.
As part of this plan, he has repeatedly lamented that Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, should become an extension of the US.
While both Greenland and Denmark governments have made it clear that they are not interested in joining forces, Trump explained why the region is so important to the US.
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Speaking in March, Trump said: “We need Greenland.
“Very importantly, for international security, we have to have Greenland. It's not a question of, 'Do you think we can do without it?' We can't.
“If you look at Greenland right now, if you look at the waterways, you have Chinese and Russian ships all over the place, and we're not going to be able to do that. We're not relying on Denmark or anybody else to take care of that situation."
He also said that he wants Canada to become the 51st state of the US too.
Anyway, in response, Danish Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said: “President Trump says that the United States ‘will get Greenland.’ Let me be clear: The United States will not get it. We do not belong to anyone else. We decide our own future.”
Regardless of the clear ‘no’ that Denmark and Greenland are throwing his way, Trump organized JD Vance to take a trip to a US base in Greenland, unannounced, where Greenland's Acting Prime Minister Mute Egede said: "Just for the record, the government of Greenland has not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official."
While it might seem that Trump has wound down on his efforts since then, apparently, he has a contingency plan in place.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared to nod that the Pentagon has developed plans to invade Greenland and Panama by force if the deal isn’t made willingly but refused to answer questions on using Signal chats to talk about military operations during a congressional hearing on Thursday (June 12).
When asked whether the US would take Greenland by force, he said: “Our job at the Defence Department is to have plans for any contingency.”
Representative Mike Turner asked: “It is not your testimony today that there are plans at the Pentagon for taking by force or invading Greenland, correct?”
Turner added: “I sure as hell hope that is not your testimony.”
“We look forward to working with Greenland to ensure that it is secured from any potential threats,” Hegseth then replied.
While the US seems hopeful that they will secure the nation at some point, Jacob Isbosethsen, Greenland’s representative to the US, said at a forum in Washington the very same day as the hearing: “Greenland is not for sale.”
Of course, Trump has alleged (without evidence) that his actions are fuelled by a desire to ensure Greenland’s own security, as he said to Congress this year: “We strongly support your right to determine your own future. If you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America.”
He added: “I think we’re going to get it – one way or the other, we’re going to get it ... We will keep you safe. We will make you rich and together we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before.”