President Donald Trump on Sunday declared that the United States would take control of Greenland “one way or the other,” warning that Russia and China would step in if Washington failed to act.
Trump argued that asserting control over the mineral-rich Danish territory is vital to US national security, citing what he described as growing Russian and Chinese military activity in the Arctic region.
“If we don’t take Greenland, Russia or China will, and I’m not letting that happen,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, even though neither Moscow nor Beijing has formally laid claim to the island.
He said he would consider reaching an agreement with the self-governing Danish territory but made it clear the outcome was non-negotiable. “But one way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland,” he said.
The comments have sparked concern among Denmark and several European allies, who expressed shock at Trump’s renewed threats over the strategically located island. Greenland sits between North America and the Arctic and has long been of military importance, hosting a US military base since World War II.
Formerly a Danish colony until 1953, Greenland was granted home rule 26 years later and has since debated the possibility of gradually loosening its ties with Denmark.
Most of Greenland’s population and its political parties have consistently said they do not want to come under US control, insisting that only Greenlanders have the right to decide their future, a position Trump has repeatedly questioned.
“Greenland should make the deal, because Greenland does not want to see Russia or China take over,” Trump said, ridiculing the island’s security capacity.
“You know what their defense is, two dog sleds,” he added, contrasting it with what he described as Russia and China having “destroyers and submarines all over the place.”
Denmark’s prime minister warned last week that any attempt by the United States to seize Greenland by force would shatter eight decades of transatlantic security cooperation.
Trump dismissed the warning, saying, “If it affects NATO, it affects NATO. But you know, (Greenland) need us much more than we need them.”
What you should know
Greenland is the world’s largest island and an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with control over most domestic affairs but not defense or foreign policy.
Its strategic importance has grown in recent years due to climate change opening Arctic shipping routes and increasing access to natural resources. The United States has long viewed Greenland as a key security asset, maintaining a military presence there since the 1940s.
However, international law and Greenland’s self-rule framework emphasise that any change in sovereignty must reflect the will of its people.
