US President Donald Trump has reiterated his insistence that Greenland is crucial for national security and cannot be trusted to Denmark's protection, sparking tensions between Washington and Copenhagen. The remarks came after high-stakes talks with US officials, Danish foreign minister Lars LΓΈkke Rasmussen, and Greenlandic foreign minister Vivian Motzfeldt.
Trump insisted that the US needs Greenland for its national security, saying that Russia or China could potentially occupy it if Denmark cannot protect it. He also claimed that the alliance of NATO countries would become "far more formidable and effective" with the territory under US control.
The Danish foreign minister rejected Trump's claims, stating that the US does not need to seize Greenland and that it is absolutely not necessary. Rasmussen emphasized that the talks failed to resolve a fundamental disagreement between Washington and Copenhagen on the island's future governance.
In response to Trump's aggressive rhetoric, several European leaders have expressed support for Denmark and Greenland's right to self-determination. French President Emmanuel Macron said that if an EU country's sovereignty were affected, it would lead to unprecedented consequences, and France would act in full solidarity with Denmark.
The US administration has continued its social media campaign against NATO ally Denmark, drawing parallels between the US and Russia/China in a cartoon depiction of dogsleds. Trump first raised the idea of taking over Greenland in 2019 but has increased his rhetoric since returning to the White House last year.
A recent poll found that only 17% of Americans approve of Trump's efforts to take over Greenland, with substantial majorities opposing using military force to annex the island. Even among Republicans, support for military action is limited, with just one in 10 supporting it.
The talks between US officials and Danish-Greenlandic counterparts have left unresolved differences on the future governance of the strategically important island, which has mineral resources and strategic location in the Arctic region.
Trump insisted that the US needs Greenland for its national security, saying that Russia or China could potentially occupy it if Denmark cannot protect it. He also claimed that the alliance of NATO countries would become "far more formidable and effective" with the territory under US control.
The Danish foreign minister rejected Trump's claims, stating that the US does not need to seize Greenland and that it is absolutely not necessary. Rasmussen emphasized that the talks failed to resolve a fundamental disagreement between Washington and Copenhagen on the island's future governance.
In response to Trump's aggressive rhetoric, several European leaders have expressed support for Denmark and Greenland's right to self-determination. French President Emmanuel Macron said that if an EU country's sovereignty were affected, it would lead to unprecedented consequences, and France would act in full solidarity with Denmark.
The US administration has continued its social media campaign against NATO ally Denmark, drawing parallels between the US and Russia/China in a cartoon depiction of dogsleds. Trump first raised the idea of taking over Greenland in 2019 but has increased his rhetoric since returning to the White House last year.
A recent poll found that only 17% of Americans approve of Trump's efforts to take over Greenland, with substantial majorities opposing using military force to annex the island. Even among Republicans, support for military action is limited, with just one in 10 supporting it.
The talks between US officials and Danish-Greenlandic counterparts have left unresolved differences on the future governance of the strategically important island, which has mineral resources and strategic location in the Arctic region.