The President of the United States, Donald Trump, is “actively” discussing with his national security team the purchase of Greenland from Denmark, the White House confirmed on Wednesday, amid growing geopolitical tensions and concerns about U.S. national security.
The possibility of the United States annexing Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory rich in natural resources and strategically located in the Arctic, has rekindled international debate after the Trump administration did not rule out a military option.
White House confirms debate over Greenland
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt assured that the issue is under discussion within the president’s inner circle.
«It’s something that the president and his national security team are actively debating right now«, Leavitt said when asked about a possible U.S. offer to buy Greenland.
Trump keeps “all options on the table”
When asked why Trump wouldn’t rule out military action against a NATO member country, such as Denmark, Leavitt responded that the president keeps all options on the table.
«That’s not something this president does. President Trump always has all options on the table«.
The statements have generated concern among European allies, as Denmark is a NATO member and Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark as an autonomous territory.
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Marco Rubio will meet with Denmark over tensions in Greenland
Amid the controversy, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he will meet with Danish authorities next week in an effort to manage the situation thru diplomatic channels.
Rubio acknowledged that, in the face of a threat to U.S. national security, any president retains the option to resort to military means, although he emphasized that diplomacy is the preferred path.
«As a diplomat, which is what I am now, we always prefer to resolve it in different ways», Rubio said when asked whether Washington would be willing to risk the NATO alliance for military action on the island.
Why is Greenland key to the United States?
Greenland is considered a strategic point for the United States because:
- Its location in the Arctic is key to controlling maritime routes.
- The presence of natural resources such as strategic minerals
- Its importance in terms of hemispheric defense and security
- The growing geopolitical competition with Russia and China in the region.
These reasons explain why the purchase of Greenland has once again been placed on the U.S. foreign policy agenda.
