Washington: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday asserted that anything short of American control over Greenland would be “unacceptable,” reiterating his long-standing claim that the strategically located Arctic territory is crucial to US national security.
The remarks came just hours before Vice President JD Vance was scheduled to host talks with Danish and Greenlandic officials, adding fresh tension to diplomatic engagements over the region.
In a post on his social media platform, Trump said the United States “needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security,” arguing that the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) should take the lead in facilitating such a move. He warned that failing to do so could allow rival powers such as Russia or China to expand their influence in the Arctic.
“NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES,” Trump wrote, emphasising that any alternative arrangement would fall short of US strategic interests.
Trump’s renewed comments revive a controversial stance he had taken earlier during his presidency, when his suggestion of acquiring Greenland drew criticism from Denmark, which governs the semi-autonomous territory.
