Greenland's leaders and public oppose U.S. annexation efforts

14/3/2025 6:08

President Donald Trump

told NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Thursday that U.S.

control of Greenland is necessary to enhance international

security, escalating his campaign to annex the strategic Arctic

island.



"You know, Mark, we need that for international security,

not just security - international - we have a lot of our

favorite players cruising around the coast, and we have to be

careful," Trump told Rutte as they sat side-by-side in the White

House Oval Office for talks. "We'll be talking to you."



Asked directly about the prospect of annexation, Trump said:

"I think that will happen."



Trump has made U.S. annexation of Greenland a major talking

point since he took office on January 20. His comments on

Thursday suggested he might want NATO involved in his attempt to

take over the island, a semi-autonomous Danish territory.



The comments drew a swift rejection from the outgoing prime

minister of Greenland.



"The U.S. president has once again aired the thought of

annexing us," Mute Egede said in a Facebook post. "Enough is

enough."



NATO and Denmark's embassy in Washington did not immediately

respond to a request for comment.



Opinion polls suggest that most Greenlanders oppose joining

the U.S., although a majority favor eventual independence from

Denmark.



Greenland's pro-business opposition Demokraatit party, which

wants a slow approach to independence from Denmark, won

Tuesday's parliamentary election. On Thursday, Trump said that

election was good for the United States.



Even before starting his second term as president, Trump

said he hoped to make Greenland a part of the United States,

even though NATO ally Denmark says it is not for sale.



Greenland's strategic location and rich mineral resources

could benefit the U.S. It lies along the shortest route from

Europe to North America, vital for the U.S. ballistic missile

warning system.



Trump has managed to annoy Canadians with his proposal the

country become the 51st U.S. state. He also demands the U.S.

exert more influence over the Panama canal.



Rutte told Trump that he would leave the question of

Greenland's future to others and that, "I don't want to drag

NATO" into the debate. He said it should be a topic for

countries in the "high north" because the Chinese and Russia are

using water routes in the area.



Trump persisted, saying Denmark was refusing to discuss the

topic and that he might send more U.S. troops to bolster the

American bases on Greenland.



"We've been dealing with Denmark, we've been dealing with

Greenland, and we have to do it. We really need it for national

security. I think that's why NATO might have to get involved in

a way, because we really need Greenland for national security.

It's very important," Trump said.



Trump also sought to undermine Denmark's claim to the

island.



"You know, Denmark's very far away, and really has nothing

to do. What happens, a boat landed there 200 years ago or

something? And they say they have rights to it. I don't know if

that's true. I don't think it is," he said.