On Monday, US President Donald Trump restated his desire for the United States to control Greenland, after announcing plans to appoint Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as the island’s special envoy.
“We need it to ensure national security,” Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Monday. “We must have it. And he wants to take the lead on this.”
The president said that Landry is “a person skilled at making deals” and can help him realize his vision of controlling the region.
Trump said, “Look at the coastal areas. There are Russian and Chinese ships everywhere.”
The president also said that his wish was not due to Greenland’s energy or mineral reserves – he pointed out that the United States has abundant resources – but because he believed that Denmark was not investing enough money in protecting the island. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark with self-government and a parliament.
“They have very few people, and I don’t know – they say it’s Denmark, but Denmark didn’t spend a penny. They don’t have military protection either,” Trump said. “They say Denmark was there 300 years ago with one ship. Well, I believe we were there with one ship too. So we have to think of a way.”
As early as six years ago, Trump proposed the idea of purchasing Greenland from Denmark. Since then, he has shown a strong interest in controlling the island. In his second term, Trump has expressed this demand more openly and sent several senior US officials, including Vice President Pence and Energy Secretary Perry, to the Arctic island. Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, also visited Greenland in January before his father’s second inauguration.
Residents of Greenland and Denmark have been on high alert regarding Trump’s focus, and Danish intelligence officials have also closely monitored the situation. At the beginning of this month, the Danish Defence Intelligence Service for the first time listed the United States as a potential security threat, pointing out that the United States is attempting to use its economic and technological advantages as a tool to exert influence on opposing sides.
European Parliament President Ursula von der Leyen said that she would firmly stand by the people of Denmark and Greenland. Sovereignty and territorial integrity are fundamental principles of international law, and both the EU and the world must abide by them.
