Trump insists on annexing Greenland: a national security crisis and Danish anger
US President Donald Trump reiterated his insistence on the United States acquiring Greenland, citing "national security" needs and the need to counter the growing influence of rival powers in the Arctic. This stance sparked outrage in Danish political circles, particularly after Washington announced the appointment of Republican Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to the self-governing island, which is a Danish territory.
Since returning to the White House in January 2015, Trump has made no secret of his desire to annex the Arctic territory, even refusing to rule out the use of force to achieve this goal. At a press conference in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump stated unequivocally, "We need Greenland for national security, not for minerals," adding, in reference to potential threats, "If you look along its coastline, you see Russian and Chinese ships everywhere... We should have it.".
These statements bring to mind the historical American interest in the island; the United States has recognized Greenland's geopolitical importance for decades. Historically, the Trump administration was not the first to consider this; President Harry Truman offered Denmark $100 million in gold in 1946, given its strategic location that allows for monitoring waterways and the North Atlantic.
Strategically and militarily, Greenland is a cornerstone of the US defense system, hosting Thule Air Force Base (now known as Petavik Space Base), the northernmost US military base. This base plays a vital role in the ballistic missile early warning system and space surveillance, making complete control of the island a tempting objective for Washington amidst fierce international competition for Arctic resources and the new shipping routes opened up by melting ice.
In a firm response, both Denmark and the Greenlandic government condemned these moves. Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a joint statement affirming that "national borders and state sovereignty are based on international law," emphasizing that "no other country can be annexed, even under the pretext of international security." Copenhagen summoned the US ambassador to protest, indicating the depth of the crisis and its potential to affect the cohesion of Western alliances in the North Atlantic region.
