Trump Declares Greenland Ownership ‘Non-Negotiable’ For U.S./ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump has declared that anything short of full U.S. control over Greenland is “unacceptable,” citing national security concerns. The statement comes as Vice President JD Vance prepares to meet Danish and Greenlandic leaders in Washington. Trump’s position has drawn sharp backlash from allies and Greenland’s government.
Trump Greenland Demands Quick Looks
- Trump insists U.S. must take control of Greenland for national security
- Says NATO should lead the push or risk Russian, Chinese influence
- Declares “anything less” than U.S. ownership is “unacceptable”
- Vice President Vance hosting high-level talks with Danish, Greenlandic officials
- Greenland residents and leaders reject sale or transfer of territory
- Denmark warns crisis could destabilize NATO
- France accuses U.S. of geopolitical “blackmail”
- Trump dismisses Greenland’s prime minister’s rejection of U.S. plans
- Melting ice increases Greenland’s mineral and trade route value
- Trump cites Arctic strategic interests; experts and locals push back
Deep Look: Trump Declares Greenland Ownership ‘Non-Negotiable’ For U.S.
NUUK, Greenland — President Donald Trump on Wednesday intensified his push for U.S. control over Greenland, declaring that “anything less” than full American ownership of the Arctic island is “unacceptable.” His comments come just hours before Vice President JD Vance is set to host Danish and Greenlandic leaders in Washington for tense negotiations.
In a message posted to his social media platform, Trump stated, “The United States needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security.” He went further, suggesting that NATO should “lead the way for us to get it,” warning that if the U.S. fails to take the territory, Russia or China will.
“NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES,” Trump wrote. “Anything less than that is unacceptable.”
Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark and a key strategic point in the Arctic, has emerged as a major geopolitical flashpoint. Trump has revived his earlier interest in acquiring the island, previously dismissed by Danish officials in 2019 as absurd. This time, the White House has not ruled out the use of force.
The upcoming talks in Washington will bring together Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, hosted by Vice President Vance. The meeting follows increasing international backlash to Trump’s statements.
In Paris, French Foreign Minister Pierre Lemaire denounced what he called American “blackmail,” accusing the U.S. of undermining Western alliances for territorial gain. Denmark’s Prime Minister warned earlier this week that the standoff could “potentially trigger the unraveling of NATO” if the situation escalates.
On the streets of Nuuk, the mood is tense. Locals are facing a barrage of international media as global attention focuses on their once-quiet capital.
“I just want them to back off,” said 22-year-old student Tuuta Mikaelsen in an interview with the Associated Press. “We’re not for sale.”
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen echoed that sentiment in a news conference held in Copenhagen.
“If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO. We choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We choose the EU,” he said firmly.
When asked to respond to Nielsen’s rejection of the proposal, Trump dismissed the Greenlandic leader outright.
“I disagree with him. I don’t know who he is. I don’t know anything about him. But that’s going to be a big problem for him,” Trump said.
The president has repeatedly cited national security concerns in his campaign for Greenland, emphasizing the potential for Russian or Chinese naval presence in Arctic waters. He claims that U.S. control over Greenland would help safeguard North American interests and solidify NATO’s Arctic strategy.
Climate change has made the issue even more urgent. As Greenland’s massive ice sheet melts at record speed, new trade routes through the Arctic Ocean are becoming accessible. Experts say this shift could significantly reduce shipping times between Asia, Europe, and North America. Additionally, the island holds vast untapped reserves of rare earth minerals, critical for advanced technologies such as smartphones, batteries, and military systems.
Trump insists that controlling those resources is vital to the U.S. economy and defense capabilities. “We need Greenland before someone else does,” he said last week.
However, both experts and local leaders have pushed back. Arctic researchers argue that Greenland’s mineral wealth is not easily accessible and requires long-term investment. Moreover, critics say Trump’s push for ownership ignores Greenlandic sovereignty, culture, and environmental stewardship.
“No matter the value of the minerals under our land, that doesn’t mean we are property,” said Greenlandic MP Anna Kristensen. “We are a people, not a prize.”
Although Denmark maintains sovereignty over Greenland, the island exercises broad autonomy, including control over its natural resources. Any change in status would require Greenlandic approval, which leaders say is off the table.
Trump’s revived campaign for Greenland ownership adds to his growing list of controversial foreign policy positions during his second term. Analysts warn that the move could fracture relationships within NATO, already under stress from disputes over defense funding and U.S. trade actions.
While the Biden administration had focused on Arctic cooperation and climate resilience, Trump’s second term has prioritized aggressive strategic dominance in the region. The pressure campaign on Greenland may test the resilience of U.S. alliances — and the patience of global leaders.
As Vice President Vance prepares to meet with Danish and Greenlandic officials, all eyes are on Washington. Whether diplomacy can ease tensions remains to be seen. But for now, Trump’s message is clear: Greenland, he says, should belong to the United States — or there will be consequences.
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