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Trump Pushes to Acquire Greenland Citing National Security, Denmark Rejects

The White House confirmed President Donald Trump's priority to acquire Greenland, framing it as a critical national security move to preempt Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic. Denmark and Greenland immediately and unequivocally rejected any prospect of a sale, asserting Greenland will remain part of the Danish Kingdom. Despite the rejection, both sides announced a new high-level working group to address US security concerns in the region through cooperative, respectful means. Greenland's Foreign Minister emphasized the need to strengthen allied cooperation without surrendering sovereignty, calling for a return to normalized US-Greenland relations.

Key Points: US Bid for Greenland Rejected by Denmark, Arctic Security in Focus

  • US cites Arctic security from Russia/China
  • Denmark & Greenland firmly reject sale
  • New working group formed for cooperation
  • Sovereignty is a non-negotiable red line
3 min read

"President wants to acquire Greenland for our best national security": White House

White House confirms Trump's desire to acquire Greenland for security, but Denmark and Greenland firmly reject the prospect, proposing allied cooperation instead.

"He wants the United States to acquire Greenland. He thinks it is in our best national security to do that. - Karoline Leavitt"

Washington DC, January 16

The White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Thursday said that President Donald Trump wants the United States to acquire Greenland for our "best national security".

Addressing reporters, the White House Press Secretary said, "The President has made his priority quite clear. He wants the United States to acquire Greenland. He thinks it is in our best national security to do that," Leavitt said.

Her remarks come after Denmark and Greenland on Wednesday rejected any prospect of the "United States acquiring Greenland", even as they announced the formation of a high-level working group with Washington to explore ways to address American security concerns in the Arctic.

Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt made the remarks at a press conference at the Danish embassy in Washington following talks at the White House with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Rasmussen added that Trump has expressed a desire to "conquer" Greenland, but that he believes the meeting has managed to "change the American position".

"It's clear that the President has this wish of conquering over Greenland. We made it very clear that this is not in the interest of the Kingdom. The Premier made it very clear yesterday that Greenland, for the time being and for the future, will remain within the Kingdom of Denmark, and therefore, this is a common position that we want to work with our American friends and allies on, but it must be respectful cooperation, and it must respect the red lines," Rasmussen said.

Earlier on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump asserted that Greenland is important for American "national security", adding that if the United States does not step in, Russia and China could acquire the Arctic region.

Speaking at the White House during a signing ceremony, Trump said, "We need Greenland for national security, so we are going to see what happens. We have a very good relationship with Denmark. If we don't go in, Russia and China will go in. It is not a thing that Denmark can do anything about, but we can do everything about it."

Meanwhile, Greenland FM Motzfeldt asserted that while Greenland must strengthen cooperation with the US as an ally, this does not mean surrendering sovereignty. "That doesn't mean we want to be owned by the United States," she said.

She later added that it is always in Greenland's interest to find the "right path forward" and to work towards greater mutual understanding.

Calling for a return to stable ties, Motzfeldt said, "The US and Greenland need to return to the normalised relationship we used to have. It's in both countries' interest to find a balance and work as allies. We are allies, we are friends."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
From an Indian perspective, we understand the importance of sovereignty. No country should be treated as a territory to be acquired. The language of "conquering" is very outdated and disrespectful. Glad Denmark and Greenland are standing firm.
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Vikram M
The Arctic is becoming a new geopolitical hotspot because of climate change. While the US has security concerns, the solution isn't to acquire land. They should work with allies, not try to own them. This just pushes smaller countries closer to Russia or China.
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Priya S
It's always "national security" as an excuse for expansion. The people of Greenland have a right to decide their own future. The world has moved past the colonial era. Hope the working group leads to respectful cooperation, not coercion.
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Rohit P
As an Indian, I find this quite ironic. A country that lectures others on democracy and freedom is talking about "conquering" an ally's land. The double standards are glaring. Greenland's FM Motzfeldt handled it with grace and firmness. Kudos to her.
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Michael C
While I understand the strategic importance, the approach is all wrong. You don't strengthen alliances by threatening to take over part of an ally. The "working group" is a good step back from the brink. Hope cooler heads prevail.

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