The US president emphasizes his desire to acquire the island, envisioning a future of abundance and security for its ‘remarkable inhabitants’.
President Donald Trump has once more declared his intention to acquire the Danish-controlled island of Greenland “one way or the other,” assuring economic benefits and safety for the “remarkable inhabitants” should they opt to join the United States.
“We will ensure your security, make you prosperous, and together, we will elevate Greenland to heights you have never imagined,” Trump stated during his annual address to the US Congress on Tuesday night.
“With a very small population and a vast expanse of land, it is extremely significant for military security,” he added.
Trump has been advocating his vision for Greenland, highlighting its strategic and economic significance.
This renewed interest from Trump has energized Greenland’s independence movement, sparking calls for prompt discussions regarding secession from Denmark, its former colonial power.
However, Greenland’s ruling Inuit Ataqatigiit party has expressed that it will not hasten an independence referendum following the general election on March 11, warning of potential economic and social repercussions.
In response to Trump, Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede reiterated that his constituents do not wish to join the US.
“We do not aspire to be Americans, nor Danes. We are Greenlanders. The Americans and their leader must comprehend this,” Egede stated in a Facebook post. “We are not for sale and cannot simply be claimed. Our future is in the hands of the people of Greenland.”
Current opinion polls indicate that a majority of Greenlanders oppose joining the US, while many support the idea of eventual independence from Denmark.
Even prior to his second term, Trump expressed his ambition to integrate Greenland into the US, despite Denmark maintaining that it is not for sale.
Greenland’s pivotal location and abundant mineral resources could be advantageous for the US, positioned on the most direct route from Europe to North America, which is crucial for the US ballistic missile detection system.
“We firmly uphold your right to choose your own destiny, and if you decide to do so, we welcome you into the United States of America,” Trump communicated in his speech.
Nonetheless, he made it clear that he would not relent if persuasion fails, stating, “One way or the other, we’re going to secure it.”
