The President of the United States, Donald Trump, expressed during a meeting in the Oval Office with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, his confidence that the United States will annex Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. Trump mentioned that the United States already has military presence in Greenland and suggested the arrival of more soldiers to the territory. Since the beginning of the year, the president has repeatedly expressed his interest in acquiring Greenland, even hinting at the possibility of using force.
The opposition party in Greenland, Demokraatit (Democrats), won the recent parliamentary elections, adding to the uncertainty generated by Trump's statements. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated Denmark's stance, emphasizing that decisions about the future of Greenland solely belong to its people. In response to Trump's assertions, Rutte mentioned that any discussion about the acquisition of Greenland is beyond his scope and that he does not wish to involve NATO in this matter.
Greenland, the largest island in the world with around 60,000 inhabitants, was a Danish colony until 1953, when it became an integral part of Denmark. In 1979, it gained autonomy and greater self-governance, although Denmark still has authority over its foreign and defense policy. The Demokraatit party advocates for gradual progress toward independence from Denmark and has criticized Trump's threat to annex the territory.
During the meeting in the Oval Office, Trump stated that "Denmark is very far" from Greenland, despite being part of the Danish kingdom. The U.S. president also questioned whether the United States has the right to annex Greenland, referencing the island's history. Currently, uncertainty persists regarding the future of Greenland and the implications of Trump's statements on this delicate matter.
