President-elect Donald Trump suggested that the United States acquire Greenland for national security.
The comment was found within his nomination of Ken Hawery for U.S. Ambassador to Denmark.
“For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” Trump wrote in the announcement.
Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede said the country is “not for sale and will never be for sale.”
“Greenland is Danish. It has been since 1380. This is recognized and undisputed by the international community, including the United States, and we expect this to be accepted,” member of Parliament Rasmus Jarlov said. “It is completely unacceptable that a so-called ally is threatening to take control of our territory. It is incompatible with being allies.”
“The Danish government must speak out clearly. Control over Greenland is not up for discussion and not up for negotiation. If Frederiksen again comes up with politically correct formulations that the Greenlanders should decide for themselves, a bribery race will start between Denmark and the US, which we must not accept.”
“All American presence in Greenland is foreign policy and must therefore be approved by the government and the Folketing,” Jarlov wrote. “To the extent that American activities are aimed at taking control of Danish territory, they must be prohibited and opposed. Then they cannot be there at all.”
The situation mirrors Trump’s recent warning that the United States may seize the Panama Canal.
“The United States has a vested interest in the secure, efficient, and reliable operation of the Panama Canal, and that was always understood. We would and will NEVER let it fall into the wrong hands! It was not given for the benefit of others, but merely as a token of cooperation with us and Panama. If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question. To the Officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
