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Topics: Donald Trump, Greenland, US News
Phoebe Tonks
Topics: Donald Trump, Greenland, US News
Donald Trump has issued yet another threat to Greenland over the possible annexation of the autonomous Danish territory.
The president once again doubled down on his insistence that the US must acquire the Arctic nation on Friday (January 9), as he met with oil and gas bosses to discuss the ongoing situation in Venezuela.
“We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not,” he told the meeting.
“If we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor.”
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Trump then took things one step further as he ominously threatened the prospect of a ‘difficult’ experience should the country continue to rebuke his request.
“So we’re going to be doing something with Greenland, either the nice way or the more difficult way,” he added.
It is far from the first time a US president has wanted dominion over Greenland, with several previous presidents also having expressed an interest in acquiring the territory due to its strategic significance.
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However, none have been quite so bold or persistent about their intentions as Trump, who has increasingly doubled down on his demands in recent days in the wake of his success in capturing Nicolás Maduro and assuming control of Venezuela.
The intervention of the United States in the governance of a foreign country goes against the UN Charter and questions have been raised about its legality in regard to international law.
Yet the apparent ease with which the president was able to remove Maduro has led other nations to express their concerns over similar action being taken in their own countries.
Further fuel has been added to these fears after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s remarks that ‘all options’ remain open to the president, including ‘military force’ when it comes to acquiring Greenland.
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Should Trump decide to act, it would force NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) to intervene and defend one of its members, yet this too seems a possibility that has yet to faze the president.
During the meeting, he repeatedly claimed that he had ‘saved NATO’ and kept the political and military alliance functioning, yet also insisted that he still supported the alliance.
“If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have a NATO right now,” the president said. “But we’re not going to allow Russia or China to occupy Greenland, and that’s what’s going to happen if we don’t.”
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Despite Trump's insistence that he would acquire Greenland, the country's prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, has repeatedly rebuked the claims and slammed the US leader for even making such a suggestion to an autonomous nation.
“Threats, pressure and talk of annexation have no place between friends,” said Nielsen.
“That is not how you speak to people who have shown responsibility, stability and loyalty time and again. Enough is enough. No more pressure. No more innuendo. No more fantasies about annexation.”