Topics: Donald Trump, Europe, News, Politics, US News, World News, Explained
United States President Donald Trump is now 'actively discussing' buying Greenland as the White House reveals potential new plans regarding the Danish territory.
The 79-year-old Republican has been 'very serious' about taking the self-governing territory for quite some time now, citing both Greenland's strategic location for defence purposes and mineral wealth as reasons for wanting it.
He's also previously claimed he wouldn't rule out using force to take over the area, and, since the Trump administration’s military operation in South America on Saturday (3 January) and the capture of Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro on suspicion of narco-terrorism charges, global anxieties have been sparked about what else the US could do next.
Now, Greenland belongs to Denmark, which makes it part of the NATO security area.
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If Trump tried to take it, the US would be acting against a fellow NATO member, and that alone would put the alliance into uncharted territory, as it has never faced a situation where its strongest member is the aggressor.
In short, any attempt to seize Greenland would legally count as an attack on Denmark itself.
In the latest update, it's been revealed that Trump and his officials are 'actively' discussing a potential offer to buy the Danish territory of Greenland, according to the White House.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday (7 January) it is 'something that's currently being actively discussed by the president and his national security team'.
When asked why the Trump administration previously said it was not ruling out using military force to acquire Greenland, Leavitt stated that all options were always on the table, but Trump's 'first option always has been diplomacy'.
"The acquisition of Greenland by the United States is not a new idea," Leavitt continued.
"The president has been very open and clear with all of you and with the world, that he views it in the best interest of the United States to deter Russian and Chinese aggression in the Arctic region, and so that's why his team is currently talking about what a potential purchase would look like."
Both Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly stated that the island was not for sale, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen telling state broadcaster TV2 on Monday (5 January): "If the United States chooses to attack another Nato country militarily, then everything stops.
"That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War."
A day prior, the Danish leader released a similar statement, telling press: "It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the US needing to take over Greenland. The US has no right to annex any of the three countries in the Danish Kingdom."
She added: "I would therefore strongly urge the US to stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people, who have very clearly said that they are not for sale."
Frederiksen's remarks closely followed the sentiments of Greenlandic PM, Frederik Nielsen, who slammed the US' potential takeover as 'fantasy' this week.
"When the president of the United States talks about ‘we need Greenland’ and connects us with Venezuela and military intervention, it’s not just wrong," he hit out. "This is so disrespectful."
Nielsen continued: "Our country is not an object of superpower rhetoric. We are a people. A land. And democracy. This has to be respected. Especially by close and loyal friends."
Nielsen and Frederiksen also have the backing of a number of other world leaders, many of whom rallied together earlier this week to release an official statement against Trump's controversial mission.
Signed by the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Denmark, it read: "Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.
"Arctic security remains a key priority for Europe, and it is critical for international and transatlantic security."
The message continued: "NATO has made clear that the Arctic region is a priority, and European allies are stepping up. We and many other allies have increased our presence, activities and investments to keep the Arctic safe and to deter adversaries.
"The Kingdom of Denmark – including Greenland – is part of NATO. Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively, in conjunction with Nato allies, including the United States, by upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders."
It added: "These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them.
"The United States is an essential partner in this endeavour, as a Nato ally and through the defence agreement between the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States of 1951."
