US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose trade tariffs on countries that oppose America’s interest in acquiring Greenland. Speaking at a White House meeting, Trump described Greenland as strategically vital for US national security, citing the need to counter Russia and China’s growing influence in the Arctic.
Denmark and Greenland have firmly rejected Trump’s proposal to purchase the semi-autonomous territory. Several NATO allies have expressed support for Denmark by bolstering security measures in the region. Trump, however, emphasized that discussions within NATO acknowledged Greenland’s significance and argued that US military strength makes the acquisition necessary.
Russia has dismissed any intentions of acquiring Greenland and criticized Western countries over the dispute. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described the situation on social media as a “collapse of the West’s rules-based international order” and suggested that Denmark’s longstanding unconditional alignment with the US has been misguided.
In response, Denmark announced plans to expand its military presence in Greenland. Meanwhile, talks in Washington failed to sway the US stance, with senior officials reaffirming their position on the issue.
