Trump renews push to annex Greenland
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US President Donald Trump in December claimed Russian and Chinese ships were “all over” Greenland’s coast.
PHOTO: AFP
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COPENHAGEN - President Donald Trump’s calls that Greenland should become part of the United States
Washington’s military intervention in Venezuela
While aboard Air Force One en route to Washington, Mr Trump reiterated the goal.
“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it,” he said in response to a reporter’s question.
“We’ll worry about Greenland in about two months... let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days.”
The territory’s prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen issued a clear warning: “That’s enough now.”
“No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation,” Mr Nielsen said on Facebook.
“We are open to dialogue. We are open to discussions. But this must happen through the proper channels and with respect for international law.”
Expressing its “solidarity” with Denmark
‘Disrespectful’
Mr Trump rattled European leaders by attacking Caracas and grabbing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is now being detained in New York
Mr Trump has said the US will now “run” Venezuela indefinitely and tap its huge oil reserves.
Asked in a telephone interview with The Atlantic about the implications of the Venezuela military operation for mineral-rich Greenland, Mr Trump said it was up to others to decide.
“They are going to have to view it themselves. I really don’t know,” he was quoted as saying.
“But we do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence.”
Mr Trump in December claimed Russian and Chinese ships were “all over” the territory’s coast.
China’s foreign ministry hit back on Jan 5 urging “the US to stop using the so-called China threat as an excuse to seek personal gain”.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb said on X: “No one decides for Greenland and Denmark but Greenland and Denmark themselves”, while his Swedish and Norwegian counterparts put out similar messages of support.
Former aide Katie Miller, the wife of Mr Trump’s most influential adviser, drew ire by posting an image of Greenland
Mr Nielsen called Ms Miller’s post “disrespectful”.
“Relations between nations and peoples are built on mutual respect and international law – not on symbolic gestures that disregard our status and our rights,” he wrote on social media platform X.
But he also said: “There is neither reason for panic nor for concern. Our country is not for sale, and our future is not decided by social media posts.”
Over the weekend, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called on Washington to stop “threatening its historical ally”.
“I have to say this very clearly to the United States: It is absolutely absurd to say that the United States should take control of Greenland,” Ms Frederiksen said in a statement.
She also noted that Denmark, “and thus Greenland”, was a NATO member protected by the agreement’s security guarantees.
Allies?
Mr Stephen Miller is widely seen as the architect of much of Mr Trump’s policies, guiding the President on his hardline immigration policies and domestic agenda.
Denmark’s ambassador to the US, Mr Jesper Moeller Soerensen, offered a pointed “friendly reminder” in response to Ms Miller’s post that his country has “significantly boosted its Arctic security efforts”, and worked together with Washington on that.
“We are close allies and should continue to work together as such,” Mr Soerensen wrote.
Ms Miller was deputy press secretary under Mr Trump at the Department of Homeland Security during his first term.
She later worked as communications director for then Vice-President Mike Pence, and also acted as his press secretary. AFP
