Trump Reiterates US Control of Greenland, Threatens Troop Withdrawal from Europe

(Central News Agency, Ankara, July 7, Foreign News) US President Donald Trump today reiterated that Greenland should be controlled by the United States rather than Denmark. He also hinted that if Europe continues to oppose the US taking over Greenland, the US may consider withdrawing all its troops stationed in Europe.

According to Reuters and US financial media CNBC, as NATO leaders arrived in Turkey for a summit, Trump once again asserted that the US should acquire or control Greenland. This stance has long strained relations between the US and Denmark, two founding members of NATO, and has also affected broader US-Europe relations.

In January of this year, NATO experienced a period of tension due to Trump's demand for control over Greenland on national security grounds. However, the issue has since been transferred to diplomatic channels. Representatives from the US, Denmark, and Greenland have now established a working group to continue consultations on subsequent arrangements. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also stated in June of this year that the three parties hold regular dialogues every month.

Speaking to the media during a meeting with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan today, Trump stated that the issue of controlling Greenland has affected US relations with NATO.

He said: "This is the main reason that is hurting my relationship with NATO, because Greenland is of no help to Denmark. Denmark is not actually investing resources to help Greenland, but it is an important part for the United States."

He also stated that Greenland "has Chinese and Russian warships around it, but this situation will never continue." CNBC pointed out that experts studying Greenland affairs have repeatedly refuted Trump's claims about Chinese and Russian military threats.

Trump then said that Greenland "should be controlled by the United States, not Denmark." He emphasized: "They (referring to Denmark and Europe) are unwilling to cooperate, and we have spent so much money helping them fight Russia, there is no need for us to continue spending this money."

Trump said: "We can withdraw all US troops from Europe." He added: "You may have noticed that Europe today is completely different from 20 years ago."

He further commented on Europe: "They had better be vigilant about immigration and energy. If these two matters are not handled carefully, Europe will cease to exist."

In response to Trump's remarks, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated hours later, also in Ankara, the Turkish capital, that she expects allies to respect the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark and accept that Greenland is not for sale.

Frederiksen said: "The US desire to own and take over Greenland is well known. I also hope everyone is clear that this will not happen." She added that there are no plans to discuss the High North, the Arctic, or Greenland-related issues during this trip to Ankara.

Greenland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mute Egede, emphasized in a Facebook post that Greenland's future should be decided by the people of Greenland. He said: "It has been so in the past, and it will be so in the future." He also stated that Greenland should continue to maintain close cooperation with its allies.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said that if the discussion is about Arctic security, NATO has seven Arctic member states and should continue to handle it through existing mechanisms between the US, Denmark, and Greenland. (Compiled by Cai Jiamin) 0708

Stand with facts, your every donation is a force to protect press freedom

Download the CNA "One-Stop News" APP for real-time updates

The text, images, and audio on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.