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US President Donald Trump on Friday escalated his campaign to acquire Greenland, explicitly threatening to use military force against the autonomous Danish territory while dismissing centuries of European sovereignty over the Arctic island.
"We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not," Trump said during a White House meeting with oil executives. "I would like to make a deal, you know, the easy way. But if we don't do it the easy way, we're going to do it the hard way."
The remarks represent Trump's most direct threat yet to seize the mineral-rich island, which has been under Danish control since the 18th century. Greenland, home to approximately 57,000 people, maintains self-governance under the Kingdom of Denmark while Denmark handles defense and foreign affairs.
Trump framed his territorial ambitions as a response to increased Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic region, though neither country has made claims to Greenland. "We're not going to have Russia or China occupy Greenland. That's what they're going to do if we don't," he said.
Both Russia and China have expanded their military presence in Arctic waters in recent years as melting ice opens new shipping routes and access to natural resources. The United States already operates Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base, in northwestern Greenland, which serves as a key installation for missile warning and space surveillance systems.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that an invasion of Greenland would end "everything," referring to NATO and the post-World War II transatlantic security architecture. Denmark, a founding NATO member, has been a steadfast American ally, including participation in the controversial 2003 Iraq invasion.
Trump dismissed Danish concerns and questioned Denmark's historical claim to the territory. "I'm a fan of Denmark, too, I have to tell you. And you know, they've been very nice to me," he said. "But you know, the fact that they had a boat land there 500 years ago doesn't mean that they own the land."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet next week with Denmark's foreign minister and representatives from Greenland, though the potential for diplomatic resolution remains unclear given Trump's repeated statements about taking the territory regardless of Danish or Greenlandic consent.
The comments came during a meeting with oil executives who stand to benefit from recent US actions in Venezuela, where the United States supported the overthrow of the president last week.
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