Washington: U.S. leaders are discussing various options for taking over Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, including the use of military force. The White House issued a statement on Tuesday, local time, saying that President Donald Trump views securing Greenland as a top national security necessity to deter enemies in the Arctic region. The president and his team are discussing various options to advance this key foreign policy goal, and of course, the use of military force is an option that falls under the authority of the nation's commander-in-chief, the president.
According to Thai News Agency, a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the options President Trump is discussing include a direct purchase of Greenland or a free integration agreement with Greenland. If such an agreement is reached, it would effectively end his desire to incorporate Greenland, with its population of 57,000, into the United States.
Meanwhile, sources revealed that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told congressional leaders on Monday that the government's recent threat to seize Greenland was not a signal of imminent aggression, but rather the goal of purchasing Greenland from Denmark. This was met with counterarguments from Senator Jean Shaheen of New Hampshire (Democrat) and Senator Tom Tillis of North Carolina (Republican and chair of NATO observer group), who stated that since Denmark and Greenland have clearly declared that Greenland is not for sale, the U.S. must respect its treaty obligations and honor the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark.
President Trump has expressed interest in Greenland since 2019 during his first term and reiterated this desire upon returning for his second term earlier this year. Most recently, following the military operation in Venezuela on January 3rd, he raised the issue again, prompting several NATO leaders and Canada to voice their opposition yesterday. The US government claims Greenland is crucial to the U.S. as a vital resource for military and high-tech industries.