Topics: Donald Trump, Greenland, News, US News, Tariffs
Donald Trump has doubled down on his desire for Greenland and issued a new threat regarding those against the US acquiring it.
Trump and his government have repeatedly expressed their intention to annex Greenland, despite it remaining an ally of the US. In addition to this, the US also has a military base in the nation.
He has justified his 'very serious' desire to acquire the country by arguing it could not defend itself from a Russian or Chinese invasion.
The US president previously told reporters: "The problem is there's not a thing that Denmark can do about it if Russia or China wants to occupy Greenland, but there's everything we can do. You found that out last week with Venezuela."
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During an event at the White House on Friday (January 16), Trump suggested that he may punish countries with tariffs if they do not back the US taking over Greenland.
He said: “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security. So I may do that.”
Trump did not note which countries he was referring to, but as Greenland is a self-governing nation controlled by Denmark, many of those opposed to this US move are European nations, some of which are US allies.
This comes after the UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and the Netherlands have all sent small military detachments to the mineral-rich landmass as part of a 'reconnaissance' mission, following Trump's repeated threats.
Former President of the European Council and current Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, has argued against the US’ repeated claims to the country.
Tusk warned at a press conference: “An attempt to take over (part of) a NATO member state by another NATO member state would be a political disaster.
“It would be the end of the world as we know it, which guaranteed a world based on NATO solidarity, which held back the evil forces associated with communist terror or other forms of aggression.”
Seemingly with this in mind, the deputy prime minister of Greenland, Múte Egede, confirmed: “Soldiers of NATO are expected to be more present in Greenland from today and in the coming days. It is expected that there will be more military flights and ships.”
As well as this, Denmark has confirmed this week that it will begin building a more permanent military presence on the island, in the hopes of deterring Russia, China, and even NATO ally America.
