US President Donald Trump has said he would not use military force to take control of Greenland but repeated his call for the United States to acquire the Arctic island.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said Washington is seeking immediate negotiations over Greenland, which is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, a long-standing US ally.
Both the United States and Denmark are members of NATO, the 32-nation military alliance spanning North America and Europe.
Trump has repeatedly raised the idea of purchasing Greenland, first proposing it during his initial term in office in 2019. Greenland’s leaders have consistently rejected the proposal, saying the territory does not wish to become part of the United States, which already operates a military base there.
Trump argued that the US is best positioned to ensure Greenland’s security, adding that no other country could adequately protect the island.
The renewed push has unsettled Denmark and raised concerns about unity within NATO. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the issue does not concern Moscow.
“What happens to Greenland is none of our business,” Putin said during a televised meeting of Russia’s National Security Council, adding that he believes the parties involved will resolve the matter on their own.
