Washington, Jan 10: US President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated his determination to acquire Greenland, warning that America would take the Arctic territory “the hard way” if Denmark refuses to negotiate, citing growing Russian and Chinese military presence in the region as justification.
Speaking to reporters during a meeting with top oil and gas executives, Trump said Washington must act on Greenland or risk Moscow and Beijing stepping in. “We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not, because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland — and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbour,” the President declared.
Trump emphasized that the move was driven by national security imperatives, pointing to what he described as significant Russian and Chinese naval activity around Greenland. “If you take a look outside of Greenland right now, there are Russian destroyers, Chinese destroyers and bigger, there are Russian submarines all over the place,” he said.
The President challenged Denmark’s historical claim over the semi-autonomous territory, dismissing the notion that landing a boat there 500 years ago establishes ownership. “I’m a big fan of Denmark, they’ve been very nice to me. But the fact that they had a boat land there 500 years ago doesn’t mean that they own the land. We had lots of boats go there also,” Trump stated.
When questioned about why outright ownership was necessary given the existing US military presence in Greenland, Trump insisted that ownership was crucial for proper defense. “When we own it, we defend it. You don’t defend leases the same way. You have to own it. Countries have to have ownership and you defend ownership. You don’t defend leases,” he explained.
Trump also invoked NATO’s interests, saying the alliance must understand America’s position. “I’m all for NATO. I saved it. If it weren’t for me, NATO would not be there,” he added.
Trump’s repeated comments have drawn fierce opposition from Denmark and Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected his claims, calling them “unacceptable,” and warned that any US military action against Greenland would fundamentally alter the NATO alliance.
“If the US attacks another NATO country, everything stops,” Frederiksen said, adding that while she could not predict Washington’s actions, “there is full support from Europe that borders must be respected.”
Copenhagen has reportedly warned that its troops are under orders to “shoot first and ask questions later” if Greenland comes under attack, as concerns mount across Europe over the US openly discussing possible military action against the Danish territory.
Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, is rich in natural resources including rare earth minerals, uranium, and iron—materials critical for modern technology and defense industries. The massive Arctic island has long been viewed as strategically important by the United States.
This marks the second time Trump has pursued Greenland’s acquisition. During his first term in 2019, he offered to buy the territory, but Denmark firmly rejected the proposal, stating that Greenland was not for sale.
Trump’s remarks came shortly after he signed a memorandum directing the US to withdraw from numerous international organizations. According to the White House, the move affects 35 non-UN organizations and 31 UN entities, including the India- and France-led International Solar Alliance, environmental bodies, and various energy forums.
During the same press conference, Trump sharply criticized wind energy, vowing not to approve any windmills during his presidency. “They’re losers. They lose money, they destroy your landscape, they kill your birds, they are all made in China,” he said, contrasting Europe’s renewable energy policies with China’s reliance on coal, oil, gas, and nuclear power.
Trump drew parallels to recent US military action in Venezuela to seize President Nicolas Maduro, suggesting similar interventions might be necessary elsewhere. “If we didn’t do what we did, China or Russia would have been in Venezuela,” he claimed.
The President’s aggressive stance on Greenland has raised concerns about the stability of transatlantic relations and the future of NATO. European leaders have expressed alarm at the prospect of one NATO member threatening military action against another’s territory.
The situation highlights growing tensions over Arctic resources and strategic positioning as climate change opens new shipping routes and makes previously inaccessible resources available for exploitation. Both Russia and China have been expanding their Arctic presence in recent years, intensifying competition for influence in the region.
As the standoff continues, diplomatic channels remain strained, with no clear resolution in sight. Trump’s “easy way or hard way” ultimatum has effectively put Denmark and the broader NATO alliance in an unprecedented position, testing the limits of the Western security architecture.
