Trump: U.S. Must Acquire Greenland To Stop Russia Or China From Taking Control

President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States must acquire Greenland, warning that if Washington does not act, the strategically critical territory could fall under Russian or Chinese control. 

Trump’s claim comes ahead of a reported meeting on Wednesday between officials from the United States and Denmark over the future of the Danish-ruled island. 

“If we don’t take Greenland, Russia or China will take Greenland, and I am not going to let that happen,” Trump told reporters on board Air Force One. “I’d love to make a deal with them. It’s easier. But one way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland.”

Trump later said he has not made an offer to Denmark for Greenland, but argued that Danish officials should make a deal if they don’t want Russia or China to take over. 

“Their defense is two dog sleds,” Trump said. “In the meantime, you have Russian destroyers and submarines and China destroyers and submarines all over the place.” 

On Friday, political leaders in Greenland issued a joint statement saying they wanted to be independent of both Denmark and the United States. 

“We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders,” said Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen with four other party leaders. “As Greenlandic party leaders, we would like to emphasize once again our wish that the United States’ contempt for our country ends.”

“No other country can interfere in this,” they added. “We must decide the future of our country ourselves, without pressure for quick decision, delay or interference from other countries.”

Last week, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that an American military takeover of Greenland would effectively end NATO.

On Sunday, Louisiana Republican governor and special envoy to Greenland Jeff Landry suggested that Denmark illegitimately took control of Greenland after World War II. 

“History matters. The U.S. defended Greenland’s sovereignty during WWII when Denmark couldn’t. After the war, Denmark re-occupied it—side stepping and ignoring UN protocol,” he posted on X. “This should be about hospitality, not hostility.”

Landry, who is serving in the role on a volunteer basis, has said his role is to make Greenland part of the United States.