President Trump

27th January 2025 – (Washington) Donald Trump has expressed a belief that the United States will ultimately take control of Greenland, asserting that its 57,000 residents wish to join the U.S. His comments came after a tumultuous phone call with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, which he described as “horrendous” and marked by economic threats.

Speaking aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Trump stated, “I think we’re going to have it,” and suggested that the situation is about global freedom rather than U.S. interests. “It has nothing to do with the United States, other than we’re the one that can provide the freedom,” he added.

Since his re-election, Trump has reiterated his desire to acquire the Arctic island, which, while controlled by Denmark, enjoys considerable autonomy. Reports indicate that the phone conversation with Frederiksen was confrontational, with five senior European officials describing it as an aggressive attempt to assert control over the territory. One source remarked, “It was horrendous,” while another referred to it as a “cold shower,” indicating a shift from previously dismissive attitudes toward the seriousness of the situation.

In a bid to exert pressure, Trump allegedly threatened Denmark—an ally in NATO—with targeted tariffs on its exports to the US. The Danish prime minister’s office, however, rejected the characterisation of the conversation provided by unnamed sources.

Múte Egede, Greenland’s prime minister, has maintained that the territory is not for sale but is open to strengthening ties with the US, particularly in mining sectors. Rasmus Jarlov, chair of Denmark’s parliamentary defence committee, asserted on social media that Denmark would never transfer its citizens to the U.S. against their will, emphasising, “We are still going to say no.”

Strategically positioned between the U.S. and Europe, Greenland is becoming increasingly significant as climate change accelerates the melting of its ice sheets, sparking interest in oil and mineral exploration, despite a moratorium on new exploration licences. The changing Arctic landscape is also creating new shipping routes, offering alternatives to traditional passages like the Suez Canal.

Since the Cold War, Greenland has hosted a U.S. military base and a ballistic missile early warning system. Historical agreements, such as assurances given by President Woodrow Wilson in 1917 that Greenland would remain Danish, complicate any potential transfer of control. Former Danish officials have noted that any sale would likely require the U.K. to have precedence due to historical agreements.

Earlier this month, Trump did not dismiss the possibility of employing economic or military pressure to gain control of both Greenland and the Panama Canal. He also reiterated his belief that Canada should become a U.S. state, claiming it would benefit from better treatment and care under U.S. governance.