Trump: US Must Own Greenland to Prevent Its Seizure by Russia and China

Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

US President Donald Trump said the United States needs to "own" Greenland to prevent attempts by Russia and China to establish control over it, reports the BBC.

"Countries have to own territories and protect their property, not lease it. And we're going to have to protect Greenland," Trump told reporters on Friday, responding to a question from the BBC.

According to him, this can be done the "easy way" or the "hard way." The White House recently stated that the administration is considering acquiring the semi-autonomous territory, which belongs to NATO ally Denmark, but does not rule out the option of annexing it by force.

Denmark and Greenland state that the territory is not for sale. Denmark has also warned that military action would mean the end of the transatlantic defense alliance. Despite being the least populated territory, Greenland's location between North America and the Arctic makes it suitable for early warning systems in case of missile strikes, as well as for monitoring vessels in the region.

The US President has repeatedly stated that Greenland is vital to US national security, claiming without evidence that it is "all filled with Russian and Chinese ships."

The US already has over 100 military personnel permanently stationed at Thule Air Base in northwest Greenland — a facility the United States has used since World War II.

Under current agreements with Denmark, the US has the right to deploy as many troops in Greenland as it deems necessary.

However, speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump stated that a lease agreement is an insufficient form.

"Countries cannot make agreements for nine years or even a hundred years," he said, adding that they must own the property.

"I love the people of China. I love the people of Russia," Trump said. "But I don't want them as my neighbors in Greenland. That won't happen."

"And, by the way, NATO should understand this," the US President added.

Denmark's NATO allies — leading European countries, as well as Canada — expressed their support this week, emphasizing that "only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relationship."

Emphasizing that they, like the US, are interested in Arctic security, they stated that this should be achieved "collectively" by allies, including the US.

They also called for "upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of borders."

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