Extract from ABC News
A Greenlandic official says "children are scared" amid the growing threat of a US takeover. (Foreign Correspondent: Greg Nelson)
In short:
US President Donald Trump says anything less than Greenland "in the hands" of the United States is "unacceptable".
Mr Trump has reiterated his demand for control of the Danish territory, in a post on social media, just hours ahead of a White House meeting on the issue.
What's next?
Greenlandic and Danish foreign ministers will meet US Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday, local time.
US President Donald Trump says NATO would be 'more formidable' with Greenland in the hands of the United States, just hours ahead of a White House meeting on the issue.
Mr Trump has again reiterated his demand for control of the Danish territory, in a post on social media.
"The United States needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security. It is vital for the Golden Dome that we are building. NATO should be leading the way for us to get it," he said on Truth Social.
Golden Dome is Mr Trump's proposed air and missile defence system.
Earlier, the US President also brushed off concerns that a takeover of Denmark's territory of Greenland could tear apart the NATO military alliance.
Greenlandic and Danish foreign ministers will meet US Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday, local time, after Mr Trump renewed threats to take control of the Arctic island.
On Tuesday, local time, Greenland's prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, reiterated the island's commitment to Denmark, dismissing the prospect of becoming a US territory.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen speaks alongside Mette Frederiksen. (AP: Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix)
"We face a geopolitical crisis, and if we have to choose between the US and Denmark here and now, then we choose Denmark," Mr Nielsen told reporters in Copenhagen, standing alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
"We choose NATO. We choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We choose the EU."
Because it is part of Denmark, Greenland is covered by the umbrella of the NATO military alliance, which would be torn apart by a US attempt to take over.
But Mr Trump brushed off the concern, telling reporters in Washington: "That's their problem."
Donald Trump says the US will take Greenland "one way or another". (Reuters: Evelyn Hockstein)
Mr Trump has repeatedly said he is considering a range of options, including military force, to acquire Greenland.
He also said he would rather "make a deal" for the territory, but added: "One way or the other, we're going to have Greenland."
'Children are afraid'
Danish officials have made clear they are open to expanding cooperation with the US military in Greenland, but have repeatedly stated the territory is not for sale.
Since 1945, the US military presence in Greenland has decreased from thousands of soldiers over 17 bases and installations on the island to just the remote Pituffik Space Base in the north-west, with roughly 200 soldiers today.
The base supports missile warning, missile defence and space surveillance operations for the US and NATO.
Denmark's parliament approved a bill last June to allow US military bases on Danish soil. It widened a previous military agreement, made in 2023 with the Biden administration, that gave US troops broad access to Danish air bases in the Scandinavian country.
Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland's minister for business and mineral resources, said it was "unfathomable" that the US was discussing taking over a NATO ally and urged the Trump administration to listen to the Arctic island's people.
Naaja Nathanielsen says it is "unfathomable" that the US is considering a takeover of a NATO ally. (Foreign Correspondent: Greg Nelson)
She said people in Greenland were "very, very worried".
"People are not sleeping, children are afraid, and it just fills everything these days … we can't really understand it," Ms Nathanielsen said at a meeting with lawmakers in Britain's parliament.
Ms Nathanielsen said the people of Greenland should have a say in their own future.
"My deepest dream or hope is that the people of Greenland will get a say no matter what,"she said.
"For others this might be a piece of land, but for us it's home."
Meanwhile, Danish officials have sought to underscore Denmark's faithful alliance to the United States.
A Danish government official confirmed on Tuesday, local time, that Denmark provided US forces in the east Atlantic with support last week as they intercepted an oil tanker for alleged violations of US sanctions.
The official, who was not authorised to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, declined to provide details about what the support entailed.
The US interception in the Atlantic capped a weeks-long pursuit of the tanker that began in the Caribbean Sea as the US imposed a blockade in the waters of Venezuela aimed at capturing sanctioned vessels coming in and out of the South American country.
The White House and Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Danish support for the US operation was first reported by US cable news channel Newsmax.
Separately, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte refused to be drawn into the dispute, insisting it was not his role to get involved.
"I never, ever comment when there are discussions within the alliance," Mr Rutte said at the European Parliament in Brussels.
"My role has to be to make sure we solve issues."
He said that the 32-nation military alliance must focus on providing security in the Arctic region, which included Greenland.
"When it comes to the protection of the High North, that is my role," he said.
AP/Reuters
No comments:
Post a Comment