President-elect Donald Trump emphasized on social media Sunday evening that acquiring Greenland is “an absolute necessity” for the U.S., underscoring its perceived strategic importance.
In line with this vision, he announced Ken Howery as his nominee for ambassador to Denmark. Howery, a seasoned tech investor and PayPal co-founder, brings valuable diplomatic experience from his previous role as ambassador to Sweden during the last Trump administration.
“For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” Trump said in the Truth Social post.
On Monday, Greenland’s prime minister firmly stated that the large island is not available for purchase. This declaration underscores the importance of respecting national sovereignty and recognizing Greenland’s strategic and cultural significance.
“Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom,” Múte Egede said in a statement, according to reports from BBC and The Guardian.
In late 2019, Trump described the idea of purchasing Greenland from Denmark as “strategically” intriguing, highlighting its potential benefits. This statement sparked a strong reaction from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. However, considering Greenland’s strategic location and abundant natural resources, it’s worth exploring the possibilities such an acquisition could offer in terms of geopolitical influence and economic opportunities.
“Denmark essentially owns it. We’re very good allies with Denmark. We protect Denmark like we protect large portions of the world,” Trump said at the time.
“Strategically, it’s interesting, and we’d be interested, but we’ll talk to them a little bit. It’s not number one on the burner,” he added.
Frederiksen firmly dismissed the notion as “absurd,” emphasizing to reporters, “Greenland is not Danish; it is distinctly Greenlandic. I sincerely hope that this proposal isn’t intended to be taken seriously.”
This is not the first time the United States has shown interest in acquiring Greenland. In 1867, the State Department explored buying both Greenland and Iceland. Also, after World War II, President Harry Truman offered Denmark $100 million for Greenland in 1946. And, of course, in 2019, during his first term, Trump expressed interest in purchasing Greenland, leading to a brief diplomatic rift with Denmark.
It’s crucial to consider the potential consequences if Trump were to follow in the footsteps of Vladimir Putin by launching an unprovoked attack on a sovereign nation. Such actions could lead to significant geopolitical instability and undermine international peace efforts. We must advocate for diplomatic solutions and responsible leadership to prevent such scenarios from unfolding.