Donald Trump has again proposed annexing Greenland, after Denmark's leader urged him to stop the threats over the island.
Speaking to reporters, the US president said we need Greenland from the standpoint of national security. Trump has repeatedly raised the prospect of the semi-autonomous Danish territory becoming an annexed part of the US, citing its strategic location for defense purposes and mineral wealth.
Greenland's Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen responded by saying that's enough now and described the notion of US control over the island as a fantasy. He stated: No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation. We are open to dialogue. We are open to discussions. But this must happen through the proper channels and with respect for international law.
Earlier, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had stated that the US has no right to annex any of the three nations in the Danish kingdom. Frederiksen added that Denmark, and thus Greenland, was a NATO member, covered by the alliance's security guarantee, and emphasized that a defense agreement granting the US access to the island was already in place.
The Danish ambassador to the US responded to a social media post from Katie Miller, the wife of one of Trump’s senior aides, which featured a map of Greenland in American colors, by reminding that Denmark expects respect for its territorial integrity.
The dispute over Greenland's status has intensified amidst global tensions and reminiscent past proposals from Trump. Addressing concerns, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasized that both Denmark and Greenland should determine the territory's fate. Meanwhile, EU representatives have rejected Trump's claims that Europe needs the US to control Greenland.
The dialogue surrounding Greenland illustrates complex international relations and the implications of territorial governance.
