President Donald Trump refused to rule out using the U.S. military to seize Greenland in an interview with NBC News – further escalating tensions with allies over his desire to take over the Danish territory.
After months of rhetoric over the island, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark located in the Arctic Circle, Trump has notched up the pressure on Denmark and other NATO allies to allow the U.S. to take control of it.
Over the weekend, the president threatened a 10 percent tariff on Denmark and other European nations unless they support a deal for the U.S. to take over Greenland before February 1. The tariffs would increase to 25 percent from June 1 unless an agreement was reached, Trump said.
When asked Monday by NBC News if he would use the military seize Greenland, Trump responded, “no comment.”
Trump’s comment comes after U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted the U.S. president was not serious about using the military to forcibly take over the island. On Monday, Starmer said the dispute over the Danish territory should be resolved through “calm discussion between allies.”
Trump has been fixated on Greenland – asserting that its position between Russia, Europe and North America makes it a key location from a national security standpoint. Additionally, Greenland’s location in the Arctic makes it a lucrative location to control shipping, especially as the polar ice caps melt. The island is rich in natural minerals and resources that the U.S. does not have readily available.
But every attempt the president has made to convince Danish and Greenlandic leaders to hand over the territory, which has been controlled by Denmark for more than two centuries, has been futile.
World leaders, particularly from NATO countries, have consistently condemned Trump’s rhetoric about annexing Greenland.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers have criticized Trump’s attempts to pressure Denmark to give up the island, especially as members of the administration echoed Trump’s rhetoric. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly attempted to quell fears of a military invasion in closed-door briefings.
But drama over the territory has only escalated in recent days.
Denmark and other European countries have sent small military forces to Greenland.
The eight European countries that Trump threatened with tariffs unless they supported the U.S. acquisition of Greenland released a statement Sunday saying, "Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.” When asked if he will follow through on the tariffs, Trump told NBC: “I will, 100%."
On Monday, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre released a text message Trump sent, in which the U.S. president associated his desire to acquire Greenland with his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize last year.
In the message, Trump said he “no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace.”
Støre said in a statement that “on several occasions,” he “clearly explained” to Trump that an independent Nobel Committee, not the Norwegian government, awards the coveted prize.
However, in an interview with NBC News, Trump disputed Støre’s explanation.
“Norway totally controls it despite what they say,” he said.
“They like to say they have nothing to do with it, but they have everything thing to do with it,” the president added.
He added: “Europe ought to focus on the war with Russia and Ukraine because, frankly, you see what that’s gotten them...That’s what Europe should focus on — not Greenland.”
When asked if he will follow through on plans to hit the European nations with tariffs absent a Greenland deal, Trump said, “I will, 100%."
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