Greenland

March 28, 2025 4:01 PM

Why does Trump want the US to control Greenland?

U.S. Vice President JD Vance's trip to Greenland on Friday comes at a time when President Donald Trump is insisting that Washington should take over the semi-autonomous Danish territory. WHY DOES TRUMP WANT GREENLAND? Greenland's strategic location and resources could benefit the U.S. It lies along the shortest route from Europe to North America, vital for the U.S. ballistic missile warning system. The U.S. has expressed interest in expanding its existing military presence on the island, incl...

March 27, 2025 4:40 PM

Denmark condemns what it calls Trump’s escalated rhetoric on Greenland

Danish government ministers condemned what they called President Donald Trump's escalated rhetoric on Thursday and praised Greenland's inhabitants for their resilience in the face of U.S. pressure for control over the Arctic island. Reiterating his desire to take over Greenland, which is a semi-autonomous Danish territory, Trump told journalists on Wednesday that the U.S. needs the strategically located island for national and international security. "So, I think we'll go as far as we have to ...

March 26, 2025 11:25 AM

US visit to Greenland is unacceptable, Danish prime minister says

The United States is exerting "unacceptable pressure" on Greenland, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday, ahead of an unsolicited visit by a high-profile U.S. delegation to the semi-autonomous Danish territory this week. The visit to an American military base will include U.S. Vice President JD Vance, his wife Usha Vance, White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. The U.S. vice president said on X on Tuesday that he will visit Gree...

March 25, 2025 9:32 AM

Trump pushes US claims to Greenland as territory’s leaders lambast US delegation trip

President Donald Trump on Monday doubled down on his suggestion that the U.S. should take over Greenland as leaders from the semi-autonomous Danish territory criticized a planned trip there this week by a high-profile U.S. delegation. "I think Greenland is going to be something that maybe is in our future," Trump told reporters after a meeting with officials in his cabinet, saying it was important for U.S. national security. Greenland's outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede called plans by the U....

February 3, 2025 4:23 PM

Denmark PM repeats that Greenland is not for sale

Greenland is not for sale, Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredriksen said on Monday, after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that President Donald Trump's interest in acquiring the island was "not a joke". "Greenland is today a part of the kingdom of Denmark. It is part of our territory, and it's not for sale," she said ahead of an informal EU leaders meeting in Brussels. Trump has said he would make the autonomous territory of Denmark a part of the United States, and has not rul...

January 9, 2025 3:20 PM

US says it has no plans to increase military presence in Greenland

The United States has no current plans to increase its military presence in Greenland, the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen said on Thursday, following renewed interest by incoming President Donald Trump in acquiring the Arctic island. Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, said this week that U.S. control of the strategically important Arctic island was an "absolute necessity" and did not rule out using military or economic action such as tariffs against Denmark to make it happen. "There are no plans ...

January 9, 2025 10:46 AM

Greenland important for the US, says Trump’s pick for national security adviser

Greenland is important for the United States' national security, U.S. Congressman Mike Waltz said on Wednesday, following comments by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump suggesting the U.S. should take control of the island. During an interview with Fox News, Waltz, who was tapped to serve as Trump's national security adviser, was asked about Trump wanting U.S. control over the Arctic island. "You have Russia that is trying to become king of the Arctic, with 60-plus ice breakers, some of them nu...

January 9, 2025 9:18 AM

Greenland independence is possible but joining the US unlikely, Denmark says

Greenland may become independent if its residents want, but is unlikely to become a U.S. state, Denmark's foreign minister said on Wednesday after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out force to take control of the Arctic island. Greenland's leader met with the Danish king in Copenhagen on Wednesday, a day after Trump's remarks thrust the fate of the mineral-rich and strategically important island, which is under Danish rule, to the top of world headlines. Trump, who takes offic...

January 8, 2025 3:16 PM

EU will not tolerate attacks on its borders, France says after Trump Greenland comments

The European Union will not let other nations attack its sovereign borders, France's foreign minister said on Wednesday, responding to comments by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on taking over Greenland. Trump declined on Monday to rule out military or economic action as part of his avowed desire to have the U.S. take control of Greenland, as well as the Panama Canal. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said he did not believe the U.S. would invade the vast Arctic island that has been ...

January 8, 2025 9:30 AM

Trump will not rule out force to take Panama Canal, Greenland

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump refused on Tuesday to rule out using military or economic action to pursue acquisition of the Panama Canal and Greenland, part of a broader expansionist agenda he has promoted since winning the Nov. 5 election. Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, also floated the idea of turning Canada into a U.S. state, said he would demand far higher defense spending from NATO allies and promised to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Still two week...