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Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Greenland
Lucy Devine
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, Greenland
President Donald Trump has allegedly asked the Joint Special Operations Command to 'draw up an invasion plan for Greenland', according to sources.
The Mail on Sunday reports that Trump has requested a 'plan' be made, but has been advised against military action by a number of his advisors.
It comes after the president 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.
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“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.”
Trump then took things one step further as he added: “So we’re going to be doing something with Greenland, either the nice way or the more difficult way.”
Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, one source claimed that some of Trump's advisors had warned him against military action.
The source said: “They have tried to distract Trump by talking about less controversial measures, such as intercepting Russian 'ghost' ships - a clandestine network of hundreds of vessels operated by Moscow to evade Western sanctions - or launching a strike on Iran.”
Meanwhile, another said the invasion would be the 'worst case scenario' and the 'destruction of NATO from the inside'.
They said: “Some European officials suspect this is the real aim of the hardline MAGA faction around Trump.
“Since Congress would not allow Trump to exit NATO, occupying Greenland could force the Europeans to abandon NATO. If Trump wants to end NATO, this might be the most convenient way to do it.”
Should Trump decide to act, it would force NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) to intervene and defend one of its members.
“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.”
In response to Trump's comments, Greenland's prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, has repeatedly rebuked the claims.
“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.”
UNILAD has reached out to The White House and the Joint Special Operations Command for comment.